Social media influencer Ruby Tuesday Mathews has disclosed that she was previously in a relationship with the man whose newborn child barely survived a devastating car accident.
On July 25, Ryan Heywood and Casey King, 25, were returning to their home on the Gold Coast after a night of board games when their car was hit on the M1 at Bilinga. The crash occurred allegedly due to a high-speed street race.
Casey King, who was 38 weeks pregnant, was seated in the back seat when their vehicle was rear-ended by a Mitsubishi Lancer, driven by an 18-year-old holding a provisional license.
The couple’s car had been struck with such force that it was completely written off.
Police allege the driver was street racing with another P-plater at speeds of up to 180km/h when both vehicles lost control and hit the side rail.
Trapped in the car for almost an hour, Ms. King was eventually rushed to the hospital with a broken back, where she was also subjected to an emergency C-section.
Baby Henry was born unresponsive, but pulled through after he was treated by expert medical staff for blood loss and brain bleeds.
Two weeks on he remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. It is unknown if he will have lasting injuries.
Byron Bay socialite Ruby Tuesday Matthews has asked her followers to donate after her ex-partner was involved in a terrible crash on July 25
Casey King, 25, and Ryan Heywood were in their car when it was hit from behind on their way home on the Gold Coast
Ms King was trapped inside the car for almost an hour before being rushed to hospital for an emergency C-section
Mr Heywood was able to escape the wreckage with minor injuries and his former partner, Matthews, has asked for the community to help his new family.
The Byron Bay socialite shared a link to a GoFundMe established by Alivia Nosti, the sister of Mr Heywood’s current partner.
Ms Nosti is aiming to raise $65,000 to help the new parents support Henry as he continues to recover.
According to Ms. Nosti, all funds raised will support the parents by enabling them to devote their attention entirely to Henry’s recovery and their own healing.
Ms. Nosti wrote that “Henry was born unresponsive and in a critical state… He is currently under close observation and care but still remains in critical yet stable condition.”
‘Casey and Ryan live over 1.5 hours away from the hospital and are spending all of their time by Henry’s side.’
Ms Matthews and Mr Heywood were formerly committed in a serious relationship and share two children, Rocket and Mars.
The influencer has asked her tens of thousands of followers to help Ms King and her newborn in any way they could.
Baby Henry was born in an unresponsive state and was immediately treated for brain bleeds upon his birth
Any money raised will go towards helping Ms King and Mr Heywood care for Henry as he continues to recover
On Saturday, Ms Nosti thanked everyone who donated towards or shared the page with others after the total amount of money raised hit $50,000.
‘I am completely lost for words. I never imagined this page would reach so many people, let alone that so many of you would want to help,’ Ms Nostri said.
‘These past few weeks have been the most heartbreaking and overwhelming time for my sister, her partner ryan, and my baby nephew Henry.’
Ms Nostri previously told Daily Mail Australia people need to be more careful on the roads.
‘We want to send an important message about the dangers on our roads,’ Ms Nosti told Daily Mail on Friday night.
‘You might think it will never happen to you, but it only takes one reckless decision to change the lives of innocent people forever, just as it has changed ours.’
More than 1,329 people died on the country’s roads in the year to June 30, with 5.3 per 100,000 having died in Queensland, according to data from the Australian Automobile Association.
The state is also battling a youth crime scourge, including a recent spike in Cairns in the state’s far north.
In November last year, Cairns Police unleashed a week-long operation to disrupt, prevent and investigate youth crime which resulted in 54 minors being charged with 220 offences.
