Hero in the Hailstorm: Mother Shields Four-Month-Old Daughter With Her Body

In October 2018, in Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia, Fiona Simpson, 23, demonstrated extraordinary courage and fierce maternal instinct during a sudden and destructive supercell storm. While driving with her four-month-old baby and elderly grandmother, Fiona was caught in the midst of a violent hailstorm that unleashed massive, tennis ball-sized hailstones. The powerful storm shattered her car windows, sending sharp glass and chunks of ice flying into the cabin.
Realizing the immediate risk to her baby, Fiona didn’t hesitate—she threw herself over her child, using her own body as a shield. Despite being pelted with the painful ice and glass, she endured extensive bruises and injuries to ensure her baby remained safe. Miraculously, her daughter was unharmed.
The storm itself caused widespread destruction, uprooting trees, tearing roofs off homes, and knocking out power across the area. But amid the chaos, Fiona’s brave act stood out. Her selfless protection of her child became a symbol of a mother’s unwavering love and instinct to protect.
Her story quickly went viral, inspiring people across the world and serving as a reminder of the incredible strength parents possess when their children are in harm’s way.