Groomsman’s heroic act in wake of bus crash tragedy
<p dir="ltr">As news continues to break over the devastating Hunter Valley wedding bus crash, all eyes are on the survivors, and all thoughts go out to them and the victims, as well as their heartbroken families. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/more-than-we-can-bear-hunter-valley-bus-crash-victims-identified">10 people lost their lives in the tragedy, with dozens more rushed to hospital with injuries at every end of the scale</a>. And, as it has now been revealed, up to nine of them were members of the Warrandyte Cricket Club, all guests at the wedding the bus had been travelling from. </p>
<p dir="ltr">One of those members was 27-year-old Brandon Stafford, a close friend and former teammate of the groom, Mitchell Gaffney. They had played together for the Victorian club while Gaffney and his bride - Maddy Edsell - had lived before making the move to the Hunter Valley region. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Stafford was a groomsman for Gaffney’s big day, and according to his mother, a hero to his fellow bus passengers as well. </p>
<p dir="ltr">As <em>Nine News </em>reported, Stafford had been onboard at the time of the crash, and had suffered a broken jaw. But it hadn’t stopped him from trying to help everyone around him, according to his mother. </p>
<p dir="ltr">She explained that Stafford had called her around midnight to let her know there had been an accident, but that she had no further knowledge of what had transpired, or how bad the situation truly was. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Despite his injuries, she said, Stafford went on to try and pull the other trapped and injured passengers from the bus, before he was taken to Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital himself.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Royce Jaksic, president of the Warrandyte Cricket Club, had previously informedThe Sydney Morning Herald that a number of their current players - and their partners - were on the bus when tragedy struck. </p>
<p dir="ltr">He said that the group were “extremely lucky” to have escaped with their lives, and “some minor injuries - a broken jaw, a broken collarbone, things like that.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“But, you know, compared to the 10 people that have tragically lost their lives, I think we’ve been blessed in this one.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“If you do the maths, they’ve been extremely lucky. We’ve just got fingers and toes crossed that no one else loses their lives.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">And when news of their involvement was shared to the club’s official Facebook page, support flooded in from neighbouring organisations, and concerned onlookers, with each offering their ongoing support, and thoughts in their difficult time. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“My deep condolences to the Gaffney & Edsel families and to all the Warrandyte Community who are connected to the passengers in some way,” one wrote. “I acknowledge the loss, grief and trauma. I am sending my thoughts & prayers during this difficult time and comfort during the tough time ahead.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">“On behalf of myself and the whole RDCA family we are devastated to hear this news and send our thoughts and immense support to all the families involved as well as everyone at Warrandyte Cricket Club,” said another. </p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Images: 7 News / Seven, Facebook</em></p>
