The family of a 66-year-old woman who was critically injured in an alleged carjacking in Melbourne’s south-east say they feared she was going to die.
Grandmother Mary Iviglia arrived at Casey Hospital around 11.30am on Wednesday to drop off her husband Jorge when a man allegedly jumped in their car.
Her daughter Georgie Thobis said she had received a call that both of her parents were in hospital.
“She’d stopped the car, I think, in the emergency entry to get him a wheelchair (and) someone’s just got into the car,” Thobis said.
“It was like the world was going to fall apart.”
The 66-year-old tried to stop the man before she was allegedly dragged several metres by her own four-wheel-drive.
“These things don’t really happen,” Thobis said.
“We’ve got two little kids, they love their grandparents.
“You think everything all at once.”
Iviglia was taken to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition but has now stabilised in ICU.
“She’s broken all of her ribs on her left side and some of the ribs are broken in more than one place,” Thobis said.
Iviglia was also left with a punctured lung as well as cuts and bruises on her face and head.
Adam Barry, 25, who police allege was the man who stole the car, was arrested at a home in a small town along the Bass Coast 55km away from the hospital.
The Ford was recovered nearby.
9News can reveal he was on bail for separate alleged offences.
He was admitted to Casey Hospital at some point from Monday.
Monash Health has not confirmed whether he was discharged by staff or left on his own accord.
The 25-year-old kept his head down as he sat in the dock at Dandenong Magistrates Court today.
The court heard he is on a series of anti-psychotic medication and suffers from ADHD, depression and autism.
He was remanded to face court next month.
Thobis said her mum is already back to her “cheeky self”.
“She’s a wonderful mum and a wonderful grandma. You learn to appreciate the people in your life when this happens,” she said.