How tragedy led to a lifesaving innovation.
On a quiet evening on the Gold Coast, an ordinary moment turned into every parent’s nightmare. As Krissy Jarvie stepped out of the shower around 8:30pm, her phone buzzed with a call from her son. The voice on the other end was panicked and broken.
“All he said was, ‘Mum, I have been bashed, I’m in a bush, I have no teeth, and I don’t know where I am.’ Then his phone cut out,” she recalls.
In that instant, her world stood still.
A Desperate Search
Krissy’s mind raced. She knew her son was somewhere near North Burleigh, but his exact location was a mystery. Frantically, she called him back, trying to piece together his whereabouts. His phone battery held on just long enough for him to say he could see the North Burleigh Surf Club before it died completely.
Krissy drove straight to the surf club, arriving to a commotion. Rushing toward the scene, she found her son being cared for by two North Burleigh Surf Club workers who were tending to his injuries and keeping him calm.
The Aftermath of Violence
Her son had been at a “gatho” — slang for a party — at the North Burleigh Headland. What began as a gathering ended in horror, with multiple unprovoked attacks occurring that night. Her son had been beaten so badly that, in a desperate bid to escape, he fell from the headland.
He suffered severe injuries, including an orbital blowout fracture that left doctors unsure if his vision loss was temporary or permanent. Surgery to reconstruct his eye socket was delayed by the presence of a blood clot, and the family endured three agonising weeks waiting to learn if his vision could be saved.
The emotional scars ran deep, too. While one 17-year-old was charged, the mother believes there were more attackers, including adults, who evaded justice.
The Road to Healing
Though he is physically healed, the mental toll remains. “It’s definitely affected him, but he pulls positives out of everything,” Krissy says. “He was such a shy kid before, but this experience brought him out of his shell. He’s not revengeful at all, which amazes me — though I can’t say the same for myself.”
For Krissy, the most haunting thought is what could have happened if she hadn’t found him in time. “I felt sick thinking he could lose consciousness or worse. That thought still destroys me to this day.”
Turning Pain Into Purpose
The ordeal sparked an idea. With her son’s phone dying at a critical moment, Krissy became determined to prevent others from facing the same danger. She envisioned a compact, pre-charged device capable of providing just enough battery power to call for help in an emergency.
After countless hours of research, trial, and error — and being turned down by several manufacturers — she found a partner who believed in her vision. Together, they developed Powerdaze, a biodegradable, pocket-sized charger that provides approximately 50 per cent phone charge.
A Lifesaving Innovation
The chargers have been warmly received, with users praising their portability, reliability, and eco-friendly design. “It’s been so encouraging to see how people value this product. Knowing it could save lives makes it all worthwhile,” Krissy says.
For Krissy, what began as a nightmare has become a mission. By channeling her pain into innovation, she has created something that ensures others can stay connected and safe when it matters most.
