Noah was promptly transported to Albury Hospital with his grandfather before being airlifted the following morning to the Royal Children’s Hospital with a broken arm, lacerations to his arms and legs, a collapsed lung, and a hematoma to his head and leg.
On December 27 2023, the Chandler family’s world was turned upside down when a large tree crushed the caravan, then 13 year old Noah Chandler was in.
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Noah was camping at Ball Park Caravan Park over the festive period with his grandfather, Geoff, sitting outside enjoying the evening when Noah decided to go inside to charge his phone.
Moments later, without any warning, visitors to the park heard a strange creaking noise followed by a loud bang and dust everywhere as a large branch broke from the tree and landed on top of the caravan.
A collective effort from the community ensued as individuals rallied to free Noah from the wreckage.
The Corowa Rescue Squad, police, Fire and Rescue NSW and paramedics swiftly arrived at the scene and it took the removal of the caravan’s roof to extract Noah, who was found with a broken arm, lacerations to his arms and legs, a collapsed lung, and a hematoma to his head and leg.
Now, almost a year on, Noah is thriving with no signs of that fateful night and living life to the fullest as any teenager should.
“He hasn’t taken a backward step since the incident and has handled everything that’s came his way,” Noah’s dad Scott posted to the Corowa Community Info Facebook page.
“He made a full recovery and got back to playing the game he loves this year, footy.
“He came third in his best and fairest, got named captain for his school footy team coached by Matthew Scarlett and Brendan McCartney, and they went on to knock off some gun Melbourne schools as he is at a Geelong school where we live.
Noah is back to his old self, playing footy where he came third in his best and fairest and got named captain for his school footy team.
“He said to me, ‘dad I have this second shot at life and I’m going to make the most of it’.
“As I was in Geelong when this all happened, to receive a phone call from Albury at 1am and not knowing if my son was dead or alive, was the worst gut wrench a parent could have.
“But he’s here alive and well and that’s all that matters.”
Whilst Noah and Scott have not visited the area since the incident, the family is hoping to make the trip up the Hume over the Christmas holidays to thank all of the people in the community who assisted that night and the days following as well as for the barrage of heartfelt messages sent to the family.
“As he was very lucky to be alive, we would love to thank the Corowa community for all the support you all showed over that period. Thank you again,” Scott said.
“We are thinking of driving up over Christmas if my young fella is up for it and say thank you to everyone that helped out that night and for all the amazing messages we have received.
“Don’t take life for granted. Live it while you are here because you don’t know what’s around the corner.
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