The below story may be confronting to some readers. Discretion is advised. Images are not from an actual crash.
"I've seen limbs ripped off, I've seen compound fractured femurs, I've seen feet tangled around pedals," Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) Station Officer Luke Kennedy said.
This is the reality of attending vehicle crash scenes from the perspective of our FRS colleague, who attends crashes with rescue and cutting equipment to save the lives of vehicle occupants and remove the bodies of those that didn't make it.
Luke joined Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) more than 15 years ago and now works on the truck at Wishart Fire and Rescue Station, covering Brisbane South.
When he first arrives at crash scenes, he and his crew are extremely focused on the task at hand.
"We have a plan of attack, we know exactly what we need to do and we just have to block out the screaming and focus on the task on hand," he said.
"We are assessing the situation; is there fuel on the ground? Are people trapped? How many people are trapped? Are they alive? Who needs to come out first? How many vehicles are involved? Are pedestrians involved? Have they hit power poles? Do we have lines down? Do we have gas leaks? If a heavy vehicle is involved, what are they carrying? Are there chemical leaks? Is the vehicle on fire?"
Luke said the thing most people did not realise about a crash was that occupants were usually physically trapped and required assistance to be removed.
"That's what people don't understand, it's not, I just need help opening the door or I'm going to smash a window and climb out, it's not like the movies. You are physically trapped, and you are not getting out of that car."
Luke Kennedy, Fire and Rescue
During this training at the academy, Luke witnessed vehicles being engulfed in fire within two to three minutes.
"If you're trapped in a vehicle that is on fire, it's going to be all bad," he said.
When he first started his career with QFES, Luke said he understood he would be attending vehicle crashes but had a misunderstanding of the scenes he'd be facing.
"It's not an organised, slowed down scenario like I expected," he said.
"It's chaotic - there's lots of screaming, you can smell the blood, the airbags that have gone off, the hot engine, the fuel, if they've been drinking, you have a pronounced smell of alcohol in the air.
"There is panic from the people trapped in the vehicle, you've got the paramedics providing medical support, we have machines operating to cut people from the vehicles.
"These scenes will stay with me forever."
Luke said everybody reacted differently to a crash - some were silently in shock and some were screaming uncontrollably.
"Some people are quiet, and they've shut down, they may not even be hurt or trapped, but they physically can't move from shock and we try to calm them down," Luke said.
"Other times you see people screaming uncontrollably because their legs are broken and they can't get out.
"Quite often, you can't even see their legs - I describe it as the car has gone into this person and we have to try and push the vehicle back into its original shape to get that person out while they're screaming and experiencing the most pain they can imagine.
"There is no way they can get out of that vehicle without having QFES cut them out."
Luke also said that after more than 10 years as a firefighter, he had seen what could happen to those who ignored the Fatal Five.
"I've been to numerous fatalities where it's obvious the driver was texting, talking on the phone or watching videos," he said.
"I've seen pedestrians who were looking down at their phones, crossing the road and were hit by a vehicle.
"Nothing is so important that it can't wait a few minutes, you can do it when you get home.
"I see scenarios every single day where someone has crashed and either hurt themselves or hurt someone else because of their bad driving habits.
"When I attend scenes where an innocent person has been hurt or killed, that's when it's the most frustrating.
"It's ridiculous to be honest."
Although the scenes are upsetting, Luke said he always wanted to use his skills to help.
"I want to go and I want to help people," he said.
"I have the skills to make crash victims' lives better by attending these scenes but there is no doubt that the things we see affect us too."
Luke said that QFES personnel wanted to help people but hoped they never had to.
"I'll keep doing this job, but I don't want to see you at work," he said.
"Every decision you make behind the wheel, counts.
"You aren't as bullet proof as you think you are."
