After surviving several heart attacks and being diagnosed as clinically dead for several minutes, Ray Alexander purchased a new Isuzu light truck.
Ray had his first heart attack on September 9, 2022. “They put stents in and five days later I had another heart attack and had no pulse for minutes. They got me back but told me I was clinically dead for that time,” he said.
Three years on, 66-year-old Ray is in good health and the Isuzu is going great guns for his business Gaysha in South Townsville.
It is one of the better recognised trucks in the city, so I asked Ray about it.
“I carry vintage furniture and other goods for my business and it has also been to Byron Bay in NSW where I took a load for a friend. Another person borrowed it from me to go up to Port Douglas via Mareeba and it now has 13,000km on the clock,” Ray said.
He added that the Isuzu was comfortable and perfect for his requirement.
“It is more comfortable to drive in than my wife’s Mercedes car and does a far better job compared to a 4WD,” Ray said.
I had to ask Ray what was the most unusual load he had carried in the NNR 45-150 Isuzu.
“It would have to be a 130-year-old banquet mirror which was 2.4 metres tall and came from a historical house,” he said.
When he gets time, Ray enjoys socialising at the Commonwealth and Bellevue Hotels which are near his shop and are both popular haunts for off-duty truckies.
“I like a beer but doctors told me to restrict that to a couple a few times a week. My health now seems good, touch wood,” he said.