Family members of Home and Away actress Jessica Falkholt say she could remain in a coma for months to come after a horror Boxing Day crash that killed her family.
The 28-year-old is now the only surviving member of her family from the nightmare car accident at Mondayong, on the NSW south coast, on Tuesday morning.
The head-on collision instantly killed her parents Lars, 69, and Vivian, 60, while her younger sister Annabelle, 21, passed away on Friday three days after the tragedy.
The 28-year-old (Pictured) is now the only surviving member of her family from the nightmare car accident at Mondayong, on the NSW south coast, on Tuesday morning
Jessica (pictured) could remain in a coma for weeks or even months as she fights for her life in hospital
Craig Anthony Whitall, 50, a serial driving offender who was behind the wheel of the other vehicle, also died at the scene.
The heartbroken family of the actress has kept a bedside vigil since the crash and said they had been told by surgeons her recovery was now ‘a waiting game’.
‘We’re not going to know much about Jessica’s real condition for a while,’ a relative told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The neurosurgeon came in yesterday and he just said the operation went well and it’s just a waiting game.
‘She could be in a coma for weeks or even months, she still has all the swelling on her brain.
‘They haven’t even been able to test her brain yet. They’ll probably have to wait a week or two now and see how she responds to the surgery.’
The head-on collision instantly killed her parents Lars, 69, (far left) and Vivian, 60, (middle) while her younger sister Annabelle, 21, (second from right) passed away on Friday three days after the tragedy (Jessica pictured right)
The heartbroken family of the actress (pictured) has kept a bedside vigil since the crash and said they had been told by surgeons her recovery was now ‘a waiting game’
‘She could be in a coma for weeks or even months, she still has all the swelling on her brain,’ a relative said (Jessica pictured)
Jessica – who is known for playing ‘Hope Morrison’ on Home and Away – underwent surgery at St George Hospital on Thursday.
‘Jessica just came out of a major operation and that went well,’ a relative said at the time.
‘The quick update is the op went better than expected. They were doing work on her arm and internal injuries, they were the main parts.’
Tragically, Jessica has no idea that both her parents and now her sister were killed in the crash as she lays in her hospital bed.
The serial driving offender who died in the triple-fatal car accident has been described as ‘the best father’ and a ‘hero’ by his devastated family.
Tragically, Jessica (pictured) has no idea that both her parents and now her sister were killed in the crash as she lays in her hospital bed
The girls were dragged from the fiery wreckage of the crash by brave witnesses. Their parents Lars, 69, and Vivian, 60, along with the driver of the other car Craig Anthony Whitall, 50, died in the accident. Pictured: The horrific crash scene
Mr Whitall was a known drug user and had been jailed for driving offences.
‘He was an awesome father, the best. I couldn’t ask for anything more of him,’ his son Shane told Seven News.
‘He did what he could and that’s all you can ask of anyone. He was my hero in my eyes, he was my idol.’
According to The Daily Telegraph he was previously jailed for driving disqualified and had a history of drug use.
The sisters were injured in a horrific Boxing Day crash which killed their parents, Lars Falkholt, 69, and Vivian, 60. They were identified with dental records after being burned in the aftermath of the crash
Police said the crash was caused by one car being on the wrong side of the road. It is believed to be a Toyota Prado driven by Craig Anthony Whitall, 50, who also died at the scene
Mr Whitall was reportedly driving home from a methadone clinic at the time of the tragic accident.
Witnesses told police they saw Mr Whitall’s white Toyota Prado cross the centre line of the road twice before it crashed head-on into the Falkholt’s Mazda.
Mr Whitall had been charged with more than 60 offences by police before his death.
The coronial investigation into the crash will focus on whether Mr Whitall was under the influence of drugs during the crash.