A Sydney Anglican youth leader left for dead after a hit-and-run accident is making good progress on his painful journey to recovery.
An apprentice electrical engineer, Andrew MacGregor Fraser, 21, was struck on Victoria Avenue, Castle Hill, on April 23. By the time paramedics arrived he had lost a huge amount of blood and was close to death.
The young people of St Paul's, Castle Hill are rallying around the family of the youth leader who is now receiving visitors after more than two weeks in an intensive care unit.
News of the accident spread like wildfire through Sydney's largest Anglican parish, fuelled by SMS phone messaging.
The following Saturday afternoon, 40 young adults were holding an impromptu prayer service in the carpark of St Paul's.
"God certainly answered our prayers," says Mark Stephens, pastor of St Paul's young adults ministry.
"He has made a dramatic recovery.”
Andrew's recovery
Andrew suffered a broken back, leg, and a collapsed lung.
He also lost his spleen. His arm is severely infected, with the very real danger of amputation.
However his family and friends are thankful that he is no longer on a ventilator or heavy medication.
"Yes, he still has a long journey ahead of him, in particular his bones and the various infections he has battled,” says Mr Stephens.
“But the progress meter is just off the chart today. God answers prayer in big ways!”
Mr MacGregor-Fraser was struck from behind as he was walking home from Castle Hill Tavern at about 2.20am.
It is understood he had been socialising with friends from work.
"His church friends weren't with him," says Mr Stephens.
"He would usually have been leading youth group on a Friday night, but with the schools holiday break, he must have taken the opportunity to catch up with his work friends."
Andrew is one of the leaders of St Paul's high school age youth group called Crossfire.
Supporting Andrew's family
The ministry team at St Paul's has been in regular contact with Andrew's parents, who do not attend church regularly.
"Their life has been on hold since the accident," says Mark Stephens.
"I've been coming into the hospital every three or four days to chat with them and see how Andrew is going."
The church family has rallied around the family providing much needed practical assistance.
"I think their fridge must be stocked full of meals," he says.
Mr Stephen's says the whole church family has been praying for the family, but that special focus on how his church friends can help will be discussed at a meeting of the young adult's ministry called Axis this Saturday.
"It's the first time our young adults group will have met exclusively together since the accident," says Mr Stevens.
"The night has been planned as an evangelistic outreach as part of our Moore College Mission. However we will set aside time to pray for Andrew and update people on his progress and how people can help his family."
Soon after the accident, Andrew's father, Bill, made a public appeal for the driver to come forward.
“If anybody knows anything or saw anything about 2.20am [on Saturday], or knows anything about the driver who failed to stop, if you’d report to the Castle Hill police station, I’d be very grateful,” Mr MacGregor Fraser told the media.
