Mackay dad Kody Monks injured in Sarina Mud Trials buggy crash

A young father who’s had three surgeries in three days can recall every moment of the ‘freak accident’ that shocked onlookers and left him fighting to keep his arm. LATEST

Mackay father Kody Monks was seriously injured in a buggy rollover at the Sarina Mud Trials on Saturday, June 4, 2023. Picture: Contributed

A young father who’s had three surgeries in three days can recall every moment of the horror “freak accident” that shocked onlookers and left him fighting to retain his arm.

Fatz Racing team member Kody Monks was trapped inside a buggy for more than an hour after it rolled during the Sarina Mud Trials, about 30 minutes’ drive south of Mackay, at the weekend.

Tara Smyth said doctors believed her 24-year-old brother still had many surgeries ahead as the family braced for his fourth on Thursday.

“He’s very much got a good recollection of what took place on Saturday, he was coherent until they got him in the ambulance,” she said.

Ms Smyth said they were grateful Kody survived the “freak accident” which had seriously injured his right arm and shoulder blade, with firefighters required to cut him free from the buggy and an RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter crew also called to attend.

Multiple emergency crews were at the Sarina showgrounds after Kodie Monks was seriously injured in a buggy rollover.

She said his two-year-old daughter Bonnie did not understand what had happened as she continued to call out for her dad on the racetrack.

Four days on, Kody has woken from his coma, is off ventilation and is chatting with his family.

“Today has been a really great day,” Ms Smyth said, adding it was “really awesome” to see Bonnie reunite with her dad.

Mackay father Kody Monks was seriously injured in a buggy rollover at the Sarina Mud Trials on Saturday, June 4, 2023. Picture: Contributed

She explained Kody’s last surgery and his next were focused on flushing the open wound and minimising the risk of infection, with doctors unable to say whether he would be able to keep his arm.

Ms Smyth said the medical teams had been “absolutely amazing” so far as they now waited to learn whether Kody required transfer to Townville for further operations.

A GoFundMe has so far raised more than $4000 to support the Rural View father’s recovery, adding to the kitty started by mud racing families.

Mackay dad Kody Monks, pictured with daughter Bonnie, 2, is still in a coma three days after he was seriously injured during a race at the Sarina Mud Trials on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Picture: Contributed

Ms Smyth said teams had wanted to pull out of the weekend’s trials following the crash but they rallied together to keep going as “that’s what Kody would have wanted”.

“So many people were donating their prize moneys,” she added.

Mr Monks makes up one-third of the Fatz Racing crew alongside his brother Jordan and his dad Darren, who is also the QMTA president.

The association was founded in Sarina in 1988 with the Sarina Mud Trials becoming a popular drawcard for racing enthusiasts right across Australia.

As its name suggests, the Speedway Australia sanctioned event is a muddy mess with events across five categories – including juniors, standard, buggy, bomb, and top gun – ranging in power from four cylinder vehicles up to V8s with 454 Chevrolet engines and supercharged four-wheel-drives.