Remember the collision between a Sydney ferry and a pleasure cruiser on Sydney Harbour back on 28 March 2007?

There were 12 people on the cruiser, from the Australian and international skating fraternity and their families. Four were killed.

There were horrific injuries and more ugly dismembered damage than you could ever imagine.

Senior constable Roger Gough from NSW Police Rescue – just doing his job – helped remove bodies from the water.  You may not have stopped to think just what this actually means.

You might not be able to imagine the dreadful carnage that night in the water which washed over everyone and everything.

Roger says: “We got covered in stuff … moving bodies with blood and guts.”

If one horrific tragedy wasn’t enough, as a result of his actions, Roger was paralysed for 9 months after the incident. He’s undergone months of rehabilitation to get back to the Police force.

So, how did this happen?
When there are body fluids in contact with live human beings, the risk of serious infection skyrockets.  Incidents like this highlight this very serious risk.

Whether it’s Sydney Harbour at night, a holding cell at your local Police Station, swinging drunks in the back of a paddy wagon, or a syringe discarded at the beach – body fluids are dangerous.

Our best wishes to Roger with his appeal and full return to health.