In October 2018, a mother in Queensland, Australia, made international headlines after protecting her infant during a severe hailstorm. The storm produced hailstones larger than golf balls, capable of causing blunt force trauma, fractures, and deep tissue bruising.
The mother shielded her baby with her own body, absorbing the brunt of the impact. Medical photos showed her covered in welts, bruises, and lacerations, while her child remained unharmed. Meteorologists noted that such hailstorms occur in Australia’s spring due to intense thunderstorm activity fueled by warm, moist air from the Coral Sea and cold upper-level winds.
From a medical standpoint, the mother’s injuries demonstrated how the human body absorbs kinetic energy from hail impact, which can reach terminal velocities exceeding 100 km/h. Although painful and dangerous, her quick instinct reduced the baby’s risk of head trauma or hypothermia. Studies on severe hail injuries highlight risks such as intracranial bleeding and permanent scarring. Her case underscored both the unpredictable danger of extreme weather events in Australia and the role of maternal sacrifice in survival outcomes.