Radio icon Phil Brady crawls for his life after a harrowing accident: ‘I’m a tough old bird’

The world of radio and television is filled with larger-than-life personalities, but few are as resilient as Phil Brady, the 84-year-old Australian radio legend.

Recently, Brady found himself in a harrowing situation that tested his mettle and survival instincts.



Brady, best known for his work on Melbourne's 3AW's Remember When show, was out for a routine walk with his Golden Retriever, Oro, when the unexpected happened.

The boisterous dog lurched suddenly, startling a passer-by and sending Brady sprawling onto the concrete.

Screenshot 2024-01-22 at 8.25.02 AM.png
Phil Brady was hospitalised after a harrowing accident. Credit: 3AW


The fall resulted in a broken hip, leaving Brady incapacitated and unable to walk.

In a testament to his grit and determination, Brady spent the next hour crawling along his driveway, inch by inch, to reach his house and raise the alarm.

'I had to crawl on my belly from the garden to reach my phone,' Brady recounted.

'And I could only do that by pulling on different plants in the garden along the way to help me move forward inch by inch.'

The situation was agonising, but Brady's spirit remained unbroken.

'It was agony. I am alive, though, and that is all that matters,' he said.



The incident occurred late at night, adding more difficulty to Brady's predicament. However, his quick thinking and determination to survive saw him through the ordeal.

After reaching his house, he was able to call for help and was subsequently taken to Melbourne's Epworth Hospital for surgery.

The accident meant Brady taking time off from his regular Remember When gig, which he hosts along with Simon Owens.

However, Brady remains optimistic about his recovery. He is currently in rehabilitation and hopes to return to his show in a few weeks.

Brady said he was a ‘tough old bird’, proving his spirit remains as strong as ever.



Brady's career in the media began in 1958 when he was just 19 years old. He started as an announcer at Channel Nine and quickly became a beloved figure in Australian television.

He worked closely with TV great Graham Kennedy on the variety show In Melbourne Tonight and hosted several TV quiz shows, including Concentration, Everybody's Talking, Moneymakers, Junior Moneymakers, Password, and Get the Message.

In his later years, Brady became a fan favourite on Channel 10's Good Morning Australia, where he presented a cooking segment.

In 2018, he was awarded an Order of Australia for his contributions to the media industry.



The incident reminds us of the challenges and the importance of emergency preparedness.

In a previous story, TV comedian Dave Hughes also faced a similar ordeal as he was rushed to a hospital following a surfing accident on the Gold Coast.

The incident left Hughes in what he described as the ‘worst pain’ of his life. You can read more about his story here.
Key Takeaways

  • Phil Brady suffered a serious accident that left him with a broken hip, requiring him to crawl on his belly for an hour to reach his phone to raise the alarm.
  • The radio legend was injured after his Golden Retriever caused him to fall while out for a walk, leading to his painful and challenging ordeal.
  • Brady, known for his show Remember When on Melbourne's 3AW and his extensive media career, is now in rehabilitation after surgery.
  • Despite the severe injury, Phil Brady remains positive about his recovery, describing himself as a 'tough old bird' and anticipating a return to his radio show in a few weeks.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? What safety measures do you have in place to prevent such incidents? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
 
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Learnt something today, didn't think this guy was still alive. Either no one else wants the late time slot or he's got a contract that doesn't have an end date. 84, he'll turn the toes up while on air. Be interesting how long before anyone notices.
 
I have a MeCaps personal alarm that I wear on my wrist (or I can wear it as a pendant around my neck). If I need help I press the button and I will be put through to an operator immediately. They can hear me from any room in the house and the alarm also operates outside up to 50 metres from the house. I used it 12 months ago when I collapsed one saturday night. They had an ambulance here within a few minutes. I was so grateful for this service. I'd suffered a severe pulmonary embolism. If I'd been walking the dog or been away from home I'd use my mobile phone. I'm assuming Phil didn't have one with him.
 
The passer by didn't see him fall. :unsure: he was very lucky his phone was reachable when he did get inside.
I recently got stuck in my bathroom when the sliding door came off the track. I couldn't open the door. Guess where my phone was, on the draws in the bedroom. Eventually I was able to jiggle the door to get it balanced so I could move it. Lesson, make sure your phone or alarm is in reach of you, even in the house. You don't have to have a disability to get stuck, the disability is being on your own when it happens.
 
I always carry my mobile in my back pocket. I also have a cordless phone in my loungeroom and one in the bedroom. With the mobile, I have enabled the emergency function whereby holding down the on/off button for six seconds activates the function. This sounds an alarm that is like a police siren, dials 000 and delivers a GPS location to them and also sends an SMS to up to five emergency contacts to let them know I'm in trouble. The best thing about this function is that it is free and is available on virtually all smartphones.
I found out about it during a first aid course I took last year 😇
 
I always carry my mobile in my back pocket. I also have a cordless phone in my loungeroom and one in the bedroom. With the mobile, I have enabled the emergency function whereby holding down the on/off button for six seconds activates the function. This sounds an alarm that is like a police siren, dials 000 and delivers a GPS location to them and also sends an SMS to up to five emergency contacts to let them know I'm in trouble. The best thing about this function is that it is free and is available on virtually all smartphones.
I found out about it during a first aid course I took last year 😇
Not everybody can afford an iPhone, a friend had one of these types she wore around her neck , that supposedly did everything, the sad part when she fell no one knew and when neighbors hadn’t seen her for a few days they called police to do a welfare check and she was found deceased on the bathroom floor. and she had me convinced that I should get one am glad now I never.
 
The passer by didn't see him fall. :unsure: he was very lucky his phone was reachable when he did get inside.
I recently got stuck in my bathroom when the sliding door came off the track. I couldn't open the door. Guess where my phone was, on the draws in the bedroom. Eventually I was able to jiggle the door to get it balanced so I could move it. Lesson, make sure your phone or alarm is in reach of you, even in the house. You don't have to have a disability to get stuck, the disability is being on your own when it happens.
Not claustrophobic, but I still got chills from reading this. Good thing you eventually got out, @Clancieblue!
I always carry my mobile in my back pocket. I also have a cordless phone in my loungeroom and one in the bedroom. With the mobile, I have enabled the emergency function whereby holding down the on/off button for six seconds activates the function. This sounds an alarm that is like a police siren, dials 000 and delivers a GPS location to them and also sends an SMS to up to five emergency contacts to let them know I'm in trouble. The best thing about this function is that it is free and is available on virtually all smartphones.
I found out about it during a first aid course I took last year 😇
Thanks for sharing, @Loubeauxarts! :O
 
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Not everybody can afford an iPhone, a friend had one of these types she wore around her neck , that supposedly did everything, the sad part when she fell no one knew and when neighbors hadn’t seen her for a few days they called police to do a welfare check and she was found deceased on the bathroom floor. and she had me convinced that I should get one am glad now I never.
Not an iPhone. Android phones have this feature also. My phone is an Oppo, in the budget price range...
 
As Barrie Humphries said on an interview, he was looking at 70 from the wrong side. So am I.
Whenever I go outside to the garden, I always take my mobile phone. If I have a fall which I have done, and cannot getup which has not happened, I can call for help.
 
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Not everybody can afford an iPhone, a friend had one of these types she wore around her neck , that supposedly did everything, the sad part when she fell no one knew and when neighbors hadn’t seen her for a few days they called police to do a welfare check and she was found deceased on the bathroom floor. and she had me convinced that I should get one am glad now I never.
I should have mentioned that with the MeCaps alarm that I use, I must press the Morning Call Button on the unit every morning by 9.30. If I don't, a reminder is sent to me through the unit AND as an SMS on my phone. If I don't confirm by 11.30 am they will contact the first responder contact on my file. If they can't get through to any listed contact, then Emergency Services will be notified and sent to my home. On my front door is a key safe which has a code applied to it, so Emergency Services can unlock my door if I can't reach it. This way a patient is never left for hours without assistance. I only paid a one-off fee of about $250 four years ago. There are no other charges and the unit has been upgraded in that time.
 
I have a MeCaps personal alarm that I wear on my wrist (or I can wear it as a pendant around my neck). If I need help I press the button and I will be put through to an operator immediately. They can hear me from any room in the house and the alarm also operates outside up to 50 metres from the house. I used it 12 months ago when I collapsed one saturday night. They had an ambulance here within a few minutes. I was so grateful for this service. I'd suffered a severe pulmonary embolism. If I'd been walking the dog or been away from home I'd use my mobile phone. I'm assuming Phil didn't have one with him.
Hubby has a please help button too.
However, taking the dog for walkies...I have to wonder why he didn't have his mobile with him. Night time certainly should not be a situation to be left hopeless like that. I hope he heals OK.
 
The world of radio and television is filled with larger-than-life personalities, but few are as resilient as Phil Brady, the 84-year-old Australian radio legend.

Recently, Brady found himself in a harrowing situation that tested his mettle and survival instincts.



Brady, best known for his work on Melbourne's 3AW's Remember When show, was out for a routine walk with his Golden Retriever, Oro, when the unexpected happened.

The boisterous dog lurched suddenly, startling a passer-by and sending Brady sprawling onto the concrete.

View attachment 39652
Phil Brady was hospitalised after a harrowing accident. Credit: 3AW


The fall resulted in a broken hip, leaving Brady incapacitated and unable to walk.

In a testament to his grit and determination, Brady spent the next hour crawling along his driveway, inch by inch, to reach his house and raise the alarm.

'I had to crawl on my belly from the garden to reach my phone,' Brady recounted.

'And I could only do that by pulling on different plants in the garden along the way to help me move forward inch by inch.'

The situation was agonising, but Brady's spirit remained unbroken.

'It was agony. I am alive, though, and that is all that matters,' he said.



The incident occurred late at night, adding more difficulty to Brady's predicament. However, his quick thinking and determination to survive saw him through the ordeal.

After reaching his house, he was able to call for help and was subsequently taken to Melbourne's Epworth Hospital for surgery.

The accident meant Brady taking time off from his regular Remember When gig, which he hosts along with Simon Owens.

However, Brady remains optimistic about his recovery. He is currently in rehabilitation and hopes to return to his show in a few weeks.

Brady said he was a ‘tough old bird’, proving his spirit remains as strong as ever.



Brady's career in the media began in 1958 when he was just 19 years old. He started as an announcer at Channel Nine and quickly became a beloved figure in Australian television.

He worked closely with TV great Graham Kennedy on the variety show In Melbourne Tonight and hosted several TV quiz shows, including Concentration, Everybody's Talking, Moneymakers, Junior Moneymakers, Password, and Get the Message.

In his later years, Brady became a fan favourite on Channel 10's Good Morning Australia, where he presented a cooking segment.

In 2018, he was awarded an Order of Australia for his contributions to the media industry.



The incident reminds us of the challenges and the importance of emergency preparedness.

In a previous story, TV comedian Dave Hughes also faced a similar ordeal as he was rushed to a hospital following a surfing accident on the Gold Coast.

The incident left Hughes in what he described as the ‘worst pain’ of his life. You can read more about his story here.
Key Takeaways

  • Phil Brady suffered a serious accident that left him with a broken hip, requiring him to crawl on his belly for an hour to reach his phone to raise the alarm.
  • The radio legend was injured after his Golden Retriever caused him to fall while out for a walk, leading to his painful and challenging ordeal.
  • Brady, known for his show Remember When on Melbourne's 3AW and his extensive media career, is now in rehabilitation after surgery.
  • Despite the severe injury, Phil Brady remains positive about his recovery, describing himself as a 'tough old bird' and anticipating a return to his radio show in a few weeks.
Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation? What safety measures do you have in place to prevent such incidents? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
At that age a Medi Alert should be worn. I would not hesitate to get one when I feel I might one, or carry your mobile with you. You can get some sort of armband, fits to the upper arm and carry your mobile in that. So far I am steady on my feet, and when I take my Grandson`s dog for a walk, Border Collie, I have a choker chain for him, which gives me better control.
 
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