#49 Alex Prestney, From Grief to Grit: A Police Officer’s Story of Loss and Resilience

In this powerful episode, Alex Prestney, a current-serving police officer, shares his deeply personal journey of running from Mildura to Melbourne in honor of his brother, Josh, who tragically lost his life in the 2020 Eastern Freeway crash, along with three other police officers. Alex takes us through his motivations for undertaking this grueling 500-kilometer run and how it helped him cope with his grief while raising awareness for road safety.

Alex’s story starts with the immediate aftermath of the accident, when he and his family received the devastating news about Josh’s death. The emotional weight of that day still haunts him, vividly recalling the disbelief, the shock, and the heart-wrenching moments spent with his parents and loved ones. Alex explains how he initially dealt with the grief and the surreal experience of hearing such tragic news as both a police officer and a family member.

As Alex describes the run, he reflects on how the idea came to him almost three years after the tragedy. Mildura was not chosen randomly; it was also where another police officer, Briar Joyce, lost her life in a traffic incident. Alex wanted to create a symbolic journey that covered the entire state of Victoria, uniting two places of loss while sending a powerful message about road safety.

The run itself was no easy feat. Covering about 40 kilometers a day, Alex talks about the physical and mental struggles, from muscle pain to the emotional toll of reliving the trauma that inspired the run. Despite these hardships, Alex kept moving forward, joined at various stages by his father, mother, and wife, Rachel, who provided support. Their shared determination to honor Josh helped push Alex through the toughest parts of the journey.

Throughout the podcast, listeners will be gripped by some unexpected lighter moments, including stories of dark humor, candid banter with friends, and anecdotes about Alex's tattoos, including a tribute to Josh featuring Donkey Kong, his favorite character from Mario Kart. Despite the solemn undertones, the conversation is laced with these lighter moments, offering balance and showcasing Alex’s resilience.

Open-ended questions explored in the podcast include:

• How does a person find purpose after a life-shattering tragedy?
• What can the average person learn about road safety from such a deeply personal story?
• Can physical challenges like running help process emotional pain, and if so, how?
• How do first responders and police officers handle grief and trauma while continuing to serve?

Listeners will be moved by Alex’s unflinching honesty, as he talks about loss, mental health struggles, and the need for change in how road safety is approached in Australia. His run isn’t just a tribute to Josh, but a rallying cry for others to join the conversation about making roads safer for everyone.

Matty Morris of https://www.zerolimitspodcast.com/ helps us out with a banger of a tune. If you want to hear about some real intense moments from Veterans and First Responders. Check out Zero Limits Podcast.

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