Young motorbike rider Zac Watson has been told he will never walk again after being paralysed from the chest down while training for the Finke Desert Race in April.
The Mount Gambier local was in Alice Springs, as part of his preparation for the race, when he suffered a life-changing fall.
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Having been airlifted to hospital immediately and undergone emergency surgery, Watson received the devastating news.
A GoFundMe page set up to assist with medical expenses writes that “two 400 mm rods and twelve screws were used to decompress and stabilise his spine… doctors confirmed that his spinal cord injury was classified as complete.”
“This devastating injury, while life-changing, hasn’t altered Zac’s zest for life and his love for challenging endeavours … He is looking forward to planning camping trips, travelling, and exploring new places.
“As Zac has transitioned from the ICU to the spinal ward, he has taken the time to absorb his new reality and will continue to do so throughout this journey.
“He has now moved to a rehab facility to start rebuilding his life.”
The Finke Desert Race is a renowned two-day annual all-terrain race in the Northern Territory. Each King’s birthday long weekend, bikes, cars, and buggies cross the desert from Alice Springs to the remote town of Finke.
Watson competed in the event in 2021 and 2022, and has been racing motorbikes competitively throughout his childhood.
The GoFundMe page reads that Zac “is pushing through his rehab training with his normal zest for life. “
“His relationships with the staff and his upbeat attitude is making his journey something for people with similar injuries to aspire to. With every little gain he achieves, you can see his determination, resilience, and will to succeed shine through.”
Watson’s girlfriend Brooke Scroop took to Instagram to share an update on his progress last Monday, alongside a video of his recovery.
“I honestly thought I was going to lose my amazing partner @zacwato70, after he had a horrific accident while training for the Finke Desert Race in Alice Springs,” she writes.
“He made contact with the ground at high speed and scorpioned, resulting in multiple fractures to his spine. Tragically this has left him paralysed from the sternum down and on the long road to learning his new normal.“Something incredible about Zac is his ability to keep a smile on his dial and hold so much positivity, even when life’s handed him some downright unfair and undeserved cards.
“I was with Zac when the accident happened and have been all the way through, he has kept that incredible energy the entire way through.
“As Zac says, ‘Life Goes On’… Truly inspiring and couldn’t be prouder of him.”
You can view the GoFundMe page here.