‘I’m just a mum – you do anything you can to protect your child no matter what’

A young mother was left bruised and injured after shielding her baby daughter during a severe hailstorm in southern Queensland.

The storm struck suddenly as she was driving through the region on Thursday.

Fiona Simpson was travelling with her infant daughter and the child’s grandmother when the weather rapidly deteriorated. She said the storm arrived with little warning.

Large hailstones, some described as the size of tennis balls, began smashing into her vehicle. Several windows shattered under the force of the impact.

Ms Simpson said she immediately put her own body over her baby to protect her from injury. She later shared photographs online showing extensive bruising across her arms, shoulders, and back.

“I’ve learnt my lesson today, never drive in a hail storm!” she wrote on Facebook. She said her priority was preventing her daughter from being badly hurt.

“I covered my infant with my body to stop her from getting badly injured,” she wrote. She said she was relieved her daughter and mother were unharmed.

Ms Simpson said she had pulled her car over because of heavy rain moments earlier. She then heard a loud bang from the rear of the vehicle.

She realised the back windows, near where her daughter was seated, had been destroyed. The hailstones continued to smash into the car.

Split-second decision inside the car

Ms Simpson later described the moment in an interview with Australia’s ABC broadcaster. She said fear was replaced by instinct.

“It was so scary but there was no time to be afraid,” she said. She said everything happened very quickly.

She climbed into the back seat of the car to shield her daughter from the hail. The noise inside the vehicle was overwhelming.

“I looked down and I could see she was screaming but I couldn’t even hear her,” she said. She said the hail was incredibly loud.

Once the worst of the storm passed, Ms Simpson managed to drive her badly damaged car.

She stopped at a nearby house to seek help and called for an ambulance after realising the extent of her injuries. She said the adrenaline wore off once she was receiving medical care.

“It wasn’t until I got in the ambulance that I realised that if I didn’t do that, my daughter could have been seriously hurt or killed,” she said. She said anything could have happened.

“I’m just a mum – you do anything you can to protect your child no matter what,” she said. She added she would make the same decision again.

The storm that struck Ms Simpson was part of a larger weather system affecting Queensland. Authorities said the system had intensified as it moved across the state.

Widespread damage across Queensland

The storm sweeping through Queensland was described as severe and fast-moving. It affected multiple communities across the north-eastern Australian state.

In addition to giant hail, strong winds reaching up to 60 miles per hour were reported. Trees and power lines were brought down across several areas.

In some locations, up to 100 millimetres of rain fell within a 24-hour period. Authorities warned of flash flooding risks.

Emergency services reported receiving more than 300 calls for help. One call involved a driver trapped after a tree fell across their vehicle.

Rescue teams used chainsaws to clear debris from roads. Crews worked to reach residents cut off by fallen trees and flooding.

Elderly and vulnerable people were among those most affected. Some were unable to leave their homes due to blocked access routes.

Brian Cox, director of Queensland’s State Emergency Service, said volunteers faced difficult conditions.

“People are so upset with losing their roofs and property being damaged,” he told the Courier Mail newspaper. He said it was an emotional time.

Cox urged patience as crews navigated debris and damaged roads. He said reaching some areas safely took time.

He also reminded residents that storm season was beginning. Cox encouraged people to prepare and support vulnerable neighbours.

Tornado damage hits rural communities

Several small rural towns were also hit by tornadoes linked to the storm system. The damage in those areas was described as devastating.

Roofs were ripped from buildings and crops were destroyed in fields. One farm reported the loss of hundreds of animals.

Chicken farmer Leanne Geri said up to 800 chickens were killed during the storm. She spoke to the ABC while visibly distressed.

“It’s been very, very dry and then this storm is just devastating,” she said. She said many chickens were found dead after the storm.

“Might have lost 800, it’s hard to tell,” she said. She said the birds were struck, soaked, or died from cold conditions.

The storm lifted sheds from the ground at her property. Twisted metal and broken solar panels were scattered across the fields.

Ms Geri estimated the damage could reach $300,000. She said the recovery process would be long.

Brian Tessmann, president of Queensland Dairy Farmers, also reported major damage.

He said the storm tore through his farm, lifting the roof from his home and dairy. Possessions were sent flying through the air.

“It was bedlam,” he told the ABC. He described water pouring through ceilings and doors being forced open.

Authorities continue to assess the damage across the state. Emergency services remain on alert as clean-up efforts continue.