From tram accident to marathon: A story of survival and gratitude
In 2005, Ben Turner lay motionless between tram tracks in South Melbourne, his heart stopped and his breathing ceased. Paramedics at the scene believed his chances of survival were almost nonexistent. Twenty years later, Turner is preparing to run the Melbourne Marathon in tribute to the emergency workers who saved his life.
The accident occurred on a Friday night when Turner, then 29, was struck by a tram on Kings Way. Paramedic Mick Stephenson, who attended the scene, described Turner's condition as dire. His face was severely injured, his lung was punctured, and he had sustained multiple fractures, including 10 broken ribs and a broken leg.
Despite the severity of the situation, Stephenson and his partner, John Taplin, performed a critical procedure at the roadside. They cut into Turner's chest to release air from the lining of his lung, relieving the pressure that had stopped his heart. The intervention succeeded, and Turner's heart began beating again.
What injuries did Ben Turner sustain?
Turner suffered a punctured lung, a head injury, 10 broken ribs, a broken leg, and fractured vertebrae. He also sustained facial injuries that required five titanium plates, which remain in place today. A rod was inserted into his left leg, and he carries a small scar on his face.
He regained consciousness three weeks later at The Alfred hospital in Prahran. After four weeks in hospital, he was transferred to the Epworth rehabilitation centre in Richmond, where he began the slow process of recovery.
How did Turner recover and rebuild his life?
Turner credits a mindset of taking things one step at a time, along with the support of his then-girlfriend, Anabela Correia, who refused to let him dwell on his circumstances. The couple married in 2007 and now have two children, Max, 16, and Audrey, 12.
He began running in 2010 and now trains approximately 60 kilometres per week. In 2023, he completed a 44-kilometre race on the Great Ocean Road.
Why is Turner running the Melbourne Marathon?
On October 11, Turner will run the Melbourne Marathon to raise funds for Ambulance Victoria and The Alfred Foundation. His goal is not only to support these organisations but also to reassure emergency service and rehabilitation workers that their efforts make a lasting difference.
Turner expressed his gratitude simply:
Just being here, being able to breathe and run. Being able to be a full participant in life, with my kids, my wife and work, being able to do any of these things, they're all privileges that we all take for granted. I'm very lucky.
What do the paramedics say about Turner's recovery?
Stephenson, who has since become Turner's friend, described his recovery as remarkable.
To think a bloke lying on the tram tracks, for all intents and purposes dead, is 20-odd years later running a marathon, it's a pretty impressive story. Good luck to him. He's a fighter, there's no doubt about it.
Turner remembers nothing of the accident itself. Friends told him he was at a South Melbourne pub before heading toward his St Kilda Road apartment around midnight. News reports at the time indicated he was talking on his phone when the tram struck him.
His story stands as a testament to the skill of emergency workers and the resilience of the human spirit.