Miracle gives Ron a second chance at life

It was a routine knee surgery that turned into a nightmare for a former senator, who is now championing world-first research aimed at stopping the deadly lung condition that almost took his life.

Retired Queenslander and former Nationals’ Leader in the Senate, Ron Boswell AO has revealed he still lives with long-term loss of mobility after almost dying twice from Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) - a condition that kills ones in two sufferers.

The 85-year-old is now supporting groundbreaking new ARDS research to help save lives and improve outcomes for survivors.

Thank you to Rachel Riley for covering the story for The Courier Mail. Click here to read full article.

CCRG Director, Professor John Fraser AO, pictured with former senator, and ARDS survivor, Ron Boswell. Senator Boswell is now supporting groundbreaking new ARDS research to help save lives and improve outcomes for survivors. Photo: Lyndon Mechielsen, The Courier Mail December 2025.