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'I thought I was gone': Teen's miracle survival after speedboat accident

A Perth teenager dragged underwater by her sinking speed boat says she knew she was drowning.

Phoebe Knudsen, 17, was minutes from death when she was pulled unconscious from the Swan River.

“I thought I was gone,” she recalled after she flipped her speedboat and became trapped underneath.

But even in the darkest moments of uncertainty, her parents believed she would keep fighting.

“I remember the boat flipping and then I immediately just tried to get out of the boat and I was trying to get on top of the boat so I could breathe, but I was caught,” Phoebe said.

Phoebe Knudsen, 17, has made a remarkable recovery after her speedboat flipped during a race in Perth. Source: 7News
Phoebe Knudsen, 17, has made a remarkable recovery after her speedboat flipped during a race in Perth. Source: 7News

“My life jacket, I think, was caught on the seat so I couldn’t get out of it, so I was just drowning underneath the boat.”

The teen was participating in a race on the river alongside her father, who had no idea she was drowning until he saw her lifeless body.

“They had her inside the clubrooms and what I saw was the worst day ever,” Lenny Knudsen said.

The teen has been racing speed boats for three years, even winning the state’s 15 horsepower junior championship in 2017. Source: 7News
The teen has been racing speed boats for three years, even winning the state’s 15 horsepower junior championship in 2017. Source: 7News

Phoebe spent two days in an induced coma in the intensive care unit at Royal Perth Hospital.

“We held grave concerns for her. We weren’t sure how long she’d been under the water and how much damage had occurred,” ICU nurse Suzanne Martin said.

No-one really knew if Phoebe was going to be brain dead, but on Tuesday afternoon, she miraculously began to respond.

“I said, ‘squeeze my hand if you’re hearing me’ and she squeezed my hand and then next thing her eyes opened,” her mother Alison recalled.

The 17-year-old already has her sights set on getting back in her boat. Source: 7News
The 17-year-old already has her sights set on getting back in her boat. Source: 7News

Time is critical when your brain is being deprived of oxygen.

At 30 seconds, you can start to lose consciousness. By the one minute mark, brain cells start dying.

At three minutes there can be brain damage, while 10 minutes underwater can mean lasting brain damage.

Phoebe’s survival has been credited to the effective and efficient first aid delivered to her following the incident.

Ms Martin also said Phoebe’s age played a key part.

“You know, the thing about younger people is that they have the ability to bounce back better,” she said.

“So they have that reserve that maybe an older person doesn’t have.”

Phoebe still has a long way to go if she is to continue her successful sporting career. Source: 7News
Phoebe still has a long way to go if she is to continue her successful sporting career. Source: 7News

Phoebe’s already talking about going back in the water. She desperately wants to race again.

“I’ve a need for speed,” she admitted.

The teen has been racing speed boats for three years, even winning the state’s 15 horsepower junior championship in 2017.

The teenager still on medication and while she isn’t out of danger yet, she is heading in the right direction.

The Leeming family have expressed their gratitude to the intensive care staff who kept Phoebe alive, along with everyone who helped with the river rescue.

“We see a lot of heartbreak so it is good when we get a good outcome,” ICU nurse Karen Goodman said.

“Thank you so much. You saved my life,” Phoebe told all the people who helped her through the ordeal.