By Aneeka Simonis
FOR three long days, doctors couldn’t tell Harry’s parents if their son was going to wake up.
But after 103 long days in hospital, the 19-year-old Pakenham train crash survivor has returned home to his family.
Harry Denes’ mother said she wouldn’t wish the traumatic ordeal on her worst enemy, having had to relocate for weeks on end to be close to Harry’s bedside and help him relearn the very basics including how to eat during the months that followed the horrific accident.
Harry, a former Pakenham Secondary College student, admits he was “overly intoxicated” during a night out at Empire Nightclub in Narre Warren on Saturday 14 May.
His mates tell him he “just disappeared”.
It’s thought he got on the train in Narre Warren, getting off at Cardinia station to visit a friend.
With earphones in, Harry began walking along the tracks – and that’s when disaster struck, literally.
He was clipped by a train, sending him flying into the air.
Harry’s unconscious body was discovered moments later by a protective service officer (PSO) who alerted paramedics.
Within 20 minutes of the accident, police were at the Denes’ family’s door. Their son was already being airlifted to The Alfred hospital.
“Our friends drove us to The Alfred. It was the longest car ride of our lives,” Harry’s mum Mellissa recalled.
Harry was in a coma for 12 days, and spent close to a month in ICU with a fractured skull, injuries to his frontal lobe, broken ribs, shattered elbow, punctured lung and heavy gashes.
And on Thursday 25 August, Harry was finally released from Caulfield hospital.
“For the first three days, they couldn’t tell us if he was going to live or die,” Mellissa recalled.
Doctors can’t say if Harry will regain 100 per cent brain function.
“I don’t remember much. I woke up and didn’t know where I was. I had drips all over me. I didn’t know what happened,” Harry said.
“I was scared. It was a lot to take in.”
But, the very worst of that horror night is now behind Harry who is now looking toward the future and dreams of becoming a ‘rockstar’.
Harry’s dad Steve did up a bedroom in the top floor of their Pakenham home – repainting it and hanging up a dozen of his muso son’s prized guitars.
With a smile ear to ear, Harry gave a tour of his bedroom and spoke of plans to make music again.
At school, he was a guitarist for The Stolen Fraternity, but branched off to do more solo work after taking up an electro-technology course at Chisolm in Berwick.
“I miss playing every day,” Harry said, looking down at his titanium elbow.
Harry and his parents decided to share their story in the hope it may save another person’s life, or encourage parents to warn their kids against such dangerous behaviour.
“Harry is incredibly lucky. People who are hit by trains don’t often walk away from it,” Mellissa said.
“He truly is a miracle. And he’s been given a second chance. A lot of people don’t get that. He needs to make the most of his life now … take it and do something with it.”
Harry worked at The Pakenham Hotel before his accident, and is younger brother to Brodie and Brandan.
