Dawn Fraser’s daughter reveals the shattering choice doctors confronted her with after swimming icon’s horror fall: ‘It’s the worst question someone can ask you’

Dawn Fraser’s daughter has opened up on the confronting question doctors asked her following the Olympic legend’s fall last week while she gave an uplifting update on her mother’s condition.

The three-time Olympian, who now lives at Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, suffered ‘multiple’ injuries last week when she tripped on a newly renovated driveway after eye surgery, including four broken ribs, a gashed arm and fractured hip.

The 87-year-old was admitted to hospital last Wednesday and underwent emergency surgery for a hip replacement the next day.

Her daughter Dawn-Lorraine Fraser says her mum ‘scared the daylights out of us’ and is doing ‘so much better’ now after doctors asked her whether the swimming icon should be resuscitated if there were problems with the operation.

‘It’s been scary, it was scary I thought we were going to lose her and I was told by the doctor that we were probably going to have to face that and I couldn’t face that,’ she said.

‘Because even though she’s my mum, I’ve always thought of her as being invincible.’

Dawn-Lorraine Fraser (pictured right with mother Dawn) says her mum ‘scared the daylights out of us’ with her recent accident

The swimming legend, 87, suffered multiple injuries including broken ribs and a fractured hip when she fell at her Queensland home last week 

Ms Fraser revealed that she was blown away when doctors asked her if her mother should be revived if something went wrong. 

‘I said, are you serious? Are you asking me this question? Do you not know my mother?’ she said.

‘That’s the worst question someone could ask you when you’re not ready for it, and I said, yes, you will resuscitate her, my mother’s a fighter and you will make sure that you do everything to save her.’

Ms Fraser said her mum is already up and walking around, with doctors telling her to slow down because she’s moving too fast.

She also revealed the hip bone her mother broke is ‘particularly dangerous to operate on’, so they opted to replace it instead. 

On Tuesday, Aussie swimmer Lani Pallister spoke of her concern for her godmother, admitting Fraser’s health scare had been ‘frightening’.

Pallister and her mother Janelle, who is in Budapest as a coach at the World Short Course Championships, released a statement expressing their ‘deep heartfelt concern for Dawn’s recent incident’.

‘Hearing about her fall has been both stressful and frightening, given the relationship we share,’ they said.

Dawn Fraser’s goddaughter Lani Pallister (pictured left with Fraser) has spoken of her ‘heartfelt concern’ after the Olympic legend’s fall

Dawn Fraser was 19 when she competed at her first Olympics in Melbourne

‘Dawn is not just an extraordinary athlete and icon, she is an incredibly special part of our life, and her wellbeing is always in our thoughts, regardless of any injury or illness she may face.

‘We are relieved to hear that she is doing well and is receiving the care she needs from her family and the hospital staff.’

Fraser, who won gold in the 100m freestyle at the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Games, is widely regarded as one of the greatest swimmers of all time.

The eight-time Olympic medallist was the first athlete, female or male, to win gold in the same event at three consecutive Olympics.

Fraser was named Australian Female Athlete of the Century by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, who also inducted her as their first female member in 1985.