A former media personality who suffered a very serious brain injury has penned a heartwarming note for a friend.
Nine years ago, on January 31, 2015, TV and radio presenter Glenn Wheeler was knocked off his scooter on his way to work at Sydney radio station 2GB.
The then 54-year-old (now aged 63) suffered serious head and internal injuries and a severed artery, before he was airlifted by helicopter to St George Hospital and put into an induced coma.
He spent 321 days in hospital and now lives in a care home in Sylvania, a southern suburb of Sydney.
On his return to work on Thursday after his summer break, entertainment reporter Peter Ford tweeted that it was a ‘Lovely thrill to return to office & find this glorious Christmas card with handwritten message from my mate Glenn Wheeler’.
Nine years ago, on January 31, 2015, TV and radio presenter Glenn Wheeler was knocked off his scooter on his way to work at Sydney radio station 2GB. Mr Wheeler is pictured (centre) with his former colleagues Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies
‘Many of you would know he was terribly injured in an accident some years ago (no fault on his part) & life changed forever & it took hours to write this.’
Mr Wheeler’s message joked that ‘If I posted the card I would say it’s the reason to be very p***** … Merry Christmas Peter, love from Glenn.’
On Day, 2021, Mr Wheeler was awarded the Medal of the Order of (OAM) for services to the broadcast media and to the community.
His former colleagues at Channel Seven’s The Morning Show said they were ‘bursting with pride’ when he got the OAM.
Before the tragedy in 2015 that changed his life forever, Mr Wheeler had donated his time and money to numerous charities.
‘I tell you what, it feels terrific,’ he said of getting the Day gong. ‘I still can’t believe that it’s happened.’
He added that ‘life is fantastic. It really is, because my family is as committed to me now as they have ever been.
‘In fact it’s a buzz because I love having the family nearby supporting me,’ he said.
‘We don’t let the bad times get in the way.’
At the time, his son Dane said he was ‘shocked’ to hear the ‘unexpected’ news about the OAM.
Entertainment reporter Peter Ford tweeted (pictured) a photo of the note he got from Glenn Wheeler
Peter Ford (pictured) said it would have taken Mr Wheeler hours to write the note to him
‘It’s well-deserved,’ he said. ‘Before the accident he did so much, not just for the local community, but -wide.’
He said his father ‘was always doing some sort of charity gig’, whether as an ‘ambassador or just doing MC work for free’.
‘He’s an amazing man,’ he said.