The South Coast community has been shocked and saddened by news of the death of Debbie Bridge, the sole survivor of the horrific 2009 crash at East Lynne that claimed the lives of her husband and two daughters.
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News of Mrs Bridge’s death on Sunday, February 26, started filtering through the Ulladulla community last week.
She had been living in Victoria with family while she recovered from her own shocking injuries sustained in the fiery collision on the Princes Highway just over two years ago.
The accident, on December 28, 2009, claimed the lives of her husband David and daughters Jordan and Makeely.
The driver of the fuel tanker that caused the Termeil crash, 36-year-old David Carolan of Narellan Vale in Sydney, was also killed.
The news of Mrs Bridge’s death came as a shock to many people given she had only recently attended a coronial inquest in Batemans Bay, saying that she didn’t hold anyone responsible for the tragedy and that she wasn’t trying to blame anyone.
But her pain was evident in every word.
“We need to do something about this,” she told the inquest into the accident.
“This should not have happened. I don’t want to see another family go through what I have to go through on a daily basis.”
Mrs Bridge recently contacted the Milton-Ulladulla Times indicating that she wanted to place a notice in the paper thanking the community for its support over the past couple of years.
Local residents have expressed their sadness through social media over recent days, with friends of the Bridge family using Facebook to praise Mrs Bridge’s bravery and courage.
One post described Mrs Bridge as an inspiration for “making it this long”.
While expressing their sadness, friends also say nobody could imagine what Mrs Bridge was going through.
They acknowledge that a family ripped apart by tragedy will now be together again.
“My heart goes out to her family but it’s good to know she is at peace with her hubby and babies,” one woman posted.
“I cannot imagine how she got out of bed each morning,” another posted.
“I hope she is at peace with her family now - nobody deserves the pain she lived with for the past two years.”
Police are yet to confirm the cause of Mrs Bridge’s death.
Mrs Bridge will be farewelled at a funeral service being held this Friday at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral in Wangaratta, Victoria.
The service will commence at 11am and a private cremation will follow at a later date.
A bus will depart from outside the Ulladulla Civic Centre at 2.30am on Friday and will return after the service.
Seats can be reserved by contacting Tammy Walker on 0410 666 480.
> If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.