Eleanor Bryant dies in heroic attempt to save preschoolers in Riddells Creek, Victoria
Fatal Riddells Creek tragedy death of Eleanor Bryant – Obituary
Eleanor Bryant, a 43-year-old kindergarten teacher and speech pathologist, tragically lost her life while attempting to protect young children when a water tanker crashed into the playground of a preschool in Riddells Creek, Melbourne, on November 11. Bryant, a mother of two, died at the scene after she selflessly pulled a three-year-old boy to safety as the out-of-control truck barreled through the area.
The crash, which occurred at 2:30 p.m. as the children were outside, left the young boy with serious upper-body injuries. He was rushed to the hospital but is expected to survive. Authorities believe the truck driver, a 68-year-old man, may have suffered a medical episode before losing control of the vehicle, which struck a bridge and other roadside signs before plowing into the preschool’s playground.
Bryant’s actions have been hailed as heroic, with the community remembering her as a dedicated and caring professional. The driver of the truck remains in stable condition at the hospital, and investigations are ongoing to determine the full circumstances of the crash.