Family of groom in devastating wedding bus crash break their silence with a VERY powerful message - after it rolled seven times in horror accident

Daily Mail​

5 days ago

The family of a groom seriously injured in a minibus crash on his wedding day have broken their silence to give an update on his condition and express their support for the driver.
Father-of-four John Barrett, 57, was just hours away from marrying the love of his life when the minibus carrying him and his groomsmen lost control and rolled seven times down an embankment at Mount View in the NSW Hunter Valley on Wednesday.
The Cessnock local - who was recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease - was trapped for almost an hour before he was freed and airlifted to John Hunter Hospital.
A second man was also airlifted to the Newcastle hospital.
Four other men on board, including the driver, were taken to hospital in a stable condition, suffering minor injuries.
On Friday, Mr Barrett's bride-to-be Michelle Murphy and his three adult daughters released a joint statement to give worried well-wishers a vital update.
'We want to reassure everyone that all individuals involved in the crash - including Dad - are okay,' it said.
'While they have sustained various injuries, three have been discharged and are recovering at home, and the remaining members of the party are now in a general ward together.
'They are in good spirits and are supporting each other through recovery.'
The family stressed that they had no ill will towards the minibus driver, 73, and asked for the negative comments about him to stop.
'He is a father and husband who, like the rest of us, has been through a traumatic event,' they said.
They also paid tribute to the first people on the crash scene who climbed 40m down the embankment to rescue those in the wreckage.
'We would also like to extend a special thank you to a few incredible individuals who climbed down and assisted the boys before and during the rescue operations,' the family said.
'You know who you are - and we are forever grateful for your courage, kindness and support in such a critical moment.'
The family were rocked by Mr Barrett's MND diagnosis, a debilitating disease that robs people of their ability to move, speak and eventually breathe.
Mr Barrett, known as JB to his mates, vowed to raise funds to help find a cure and set up a Mind My Neurones fundraiser to support Professor Dominic Rowe and his team at Macquarie University.
'For those wishing to support Dad, donations can be made to his fundraiser,' the family said.
'He wouldn't want money spent on himself - his wish is for contributions to go towards finding a cure for motor neurone disease.'
The family also called for privacy as they focus on supporting one another.
Mr Barrett and his groomsmen were minutes away from Bistro Molines at the Tallavera Grove Vineyard, for his midweek marriage to Ms Murphy, three years after the birth of their daughter.
NSW Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash.
'We're very fortunate that the injuries weren't fatal,' Superintendent Steve Laksa said.
'It definitely could've been worse.'
The crash comes two years after a bus packed with wedding guests overturned and crashed in nearby Greta, killing ten and injuring another 25.
Bus driver Brett Button, 59, was
He was jailed for a minimum of 24 years for causing the tragedy.