Young dad flown with shattered spine after Stradbroke Island jet ski disaster

A young dad risks not being at home for his baby girl’s first Christmas after a horrific jet skiing accident.

Young dad airlifted with shattered spine after jet ski flip

A young dad risks not being at home for his baby girl’s first Christmas, after a horrific jet skiing accident shattered his spine, before he was flown from Stradbroke Island to a Brisbane hospital.

Joseph ‘Joey’ Brown, a 23-year-old excavator from Brisbane’s Bayside, was enjoying a day trip to Moreton Island with his toddler, fiance, and closest friends on Saturday, December 7.

Mr Brown’s close friend Deegan Anderson said the group were “running amok” and enjoying the sun.

Mr Brown was enjoying the sun on Moreton Bay before his tragic accident.

“We were on the boats at Peel Island and some of us went on the jet skis and drove 5km from the rest of the group,” Mr Anderson said.

“It wasn’t the best weather conditions, it was pretty windy, and (Joey) went up a wave and was airborne before he landed on the back of the jet ski and then into the water.

“His mates knew something wasn’t right and tried to carry him onto the jet ski while Joey as in the water with waves crashing.”

Mr Anderson said the group knew Mr Brown’s injuries were spinal related and held his neck while they worked their way back to the boat.

“Joey was screaming and going in and out of consciousness, everyone was in a lot of shock,” Mr Anderson said.

When the group made it back to the boat, after clinging onto Mr Brown, they sailed to Amity Point at Stradbroke where they were met by paramedics and soon after a rescue helicopter.

Mr Brown was brought to Amity Point at Stradbroke Island where he was met by paramedics and soon after a rescue helicopter.

“The helicopter arrived within about 20 minutes and flew him to the Princess Alexandra Hospital for emergency surgery,” Mr Anderson said.

Mr Brown had two steel rods and two plates placed in his back and has begin to regain feeling in his legs.

His doctors said it was a sign that he might walk again after months of intense rehabilitation.

“He shattered his L1 vertebra and is still waiting on so many answers, it all depends on how he recovers,” Mr Anderson said.

Mr Brown’s accident came at the worst possible time for his family. His fiancee Bianca Sanderson is expecting their second baby together, it will be their daughter’s first Christmas and he has just started a new job.

Mr Anderson said his friend was the kindest and most generous, family orientated man he knew.

Mr Brown and his fiance Bianca Sanderson are expecting their second baby next year. Photo: Supplied.

“We’ve set up a fundraiser to help them through what is to come, there will be so many expenses he hasn’t even thought of and they’re such a young family,” Mr Anderson said.

“Joey is that mate and family man that would drop anything and everything to help someone in need and we are asking any contribution, no matter how small. It will make a difference,” he said.

If you can donate to the fundraiser, please click here.