Life through death

By Bridget Brady
MITCHELL Brennan’s dream was to save lives- and his final gift did just that.
The 18-year-old Cranbourne man died when his car hit a tree during torrential rain on The Boulevard in Narre Warren South on 2 December. He died in The Alfred hospital on 3 December.
Mitchell’s wish was to become a paramedic. His mother, Sonja, said she had taken comfort that her son’s devotion to helping people was realised after his organs were donated, saving the lives of five other people.
“Five people are alive because of my son,” she said.
“He wanted to be a paramedic so it’s the ultimate way of helping people.”
Ms Brennan said Mitchell was a careful driver who had his licence for 44 days, not 14 as police initially stated.
Mitchell, who was a student at Casey Grammar, had been visiting one of his three older sisters who had just had a baby at the time of the accident.
Ms Brennan said her son was no 18-year-old hoon, and wasn’t speeding when he crashed on the wet road.
“It would be different if he was speeding, but he wasn’t’ doing anything wrong. He was friendly and quiet. He wasn’t your normal teenager. He was very family orientated. Not many 18-year-olds want to go round to their sister’s house every weekend.”
Ms Brennan’s family works in the medical profession, and she said Mitchell was aware about the consequences of dangerous driving.
“He had the fear of God in him. He wasn’t going to drive like an idiot because he knew the consequences.
“He was a responsible 18-year-old.”
Ms Brennan said her family was grieving and in shock.
“I wouldn’t want this to happen to any other person, no even my worst enemy.”
Ms Brennan’s family said they wanted to thank the “amazing” staff at The Alfred hospital for their support.