• Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook Star

By Bridie Byrne

9th March 2010 11:05:23 AM

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A MOTHER was left with life-threatening injuries after being hit in the head with a golf ball.

Natasha Cossell was on her way home in a taxi to her three children last Saturday night when tragedy struck.

It was the 38-year-old’s first night out in the city, to celebrate a friend’s birthday, since moving from Sydney.

As the cab driver passed the Sanctuary Lakes Golf Club, a thug threw a golf ball at the open window.

The shocked driver pulled over while Natasha sobbed, vomited and nursed her head.

He then dropped Natasha at her house in Point Cook and ambulance officers arrived soon after.

She chose to sleep the incident off, rather than spend hours waiting in the emergency department.

Her brother Ryan begged her to see a doctor the next day as she could no longer hear out of her left ear. An X-ray confirmed his worst fears.

Natasha was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital, where doctors were forced to insert a plate into her skull. Ryan said the shards of bone were still piercing the lining of her brain. The doctors now fear she could contract meningitis.

Ryan believes she will never go out at night again. “Her kids are too important to her to risk this happening a second time,” he said. “She never goes out anyway.”

He said the community had to remain vigilant.

“They need to be aware of the type of scum that reside in their area and that they must take precautions at all times in all situations,” he said. “This may have been just kids mucking around but this sort of behaviour can lead to more serious crime if left unchecked.

“Why are the parents letting their kids roam the streets at the early hours of the morning?” Ryan said his family was completely devastated.

“I want the kids who threw that ball to know what they have done and what grief and stress has been caused to all our family and friends now and may very well cause into the future depending on how well Natasha recovers,” he said.

“We can only hope this message gets through to them and they realise and correct their damaging ways.”

Anyone with information can contact the Werribee Police Station on 9742 9444.

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