Noosa mother issues plea to find mystery hero after horror motorbike crash

A Sunshine Coast mother-of-two facing the possibility of life in a wheelchair after a horror motorbike crash is searching for a mystery local woman who came to her rescue.

Marita Finch with her husband David Finch and her best friend Belinda King in hospital following her motorcycle crash. Picture: Supplied

A Noosa mother-of-two facing the possibility of life in a wheelchair after a horror motorbike crash is wanting to thank a mystery local woman who came to her rescue.

Tewantin resident Marita Finch was involved in a nasty motorcycle crash in October last year at the corner of Noosa Pde and Dolphin Crescent, Noosaville.

Ms Finch, who was on the way home from a shift at Aromas Noosa Restaurant and Bar, fell off her Ducati Monster 696 bike at the corner closest to the bridge, while attempting to navigate the right hand turn.

Tewantin woman Marita Finch with her Ducati Monster 696 motorbike. Picture: Supplied

After falling off the bike, it landed on top of her, pressing down the horn, which alerted those nearby to the crash.

“A lady from the apartments across the road was first on the scene, along with a doctor being the very next car to come over the bridge,” she said.

“The way the bike was positioned on me pressed the horn which alerted the lady to come out of her apartment to investigate what the noise was.

“She found me and then seconds to minutes later the first car that came over the bridge contained a gentleman from the UK, who just happened to be one of the top UK emergency pre-hospital doctors.

“So I was very fortunate to have people like that there.”

Unfortunately, the crash caused her to sustain catastrophic injuries including a broken back (T8 and T9), broken ribs, broken left shoulder, as well as a spinal cord injury.

Marita Finch with her two kids, Georgia and Eddie. Ms Finch has been left wheelchair-bound following the crash.

The 48-year-old was initially rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital, before being transferred to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, where she has remained ever since for treatment.

“I am potentially looking at a new life in a wheelchair, which is pretty devastating,” Ms Finch said.

“I don’t have any feeling from the belly button down.

“My life is going to be completely changed, irrevocably changed.”

Marita Finch with her kids Georgia, Eddie, and her mother Micheline Anderson. Picture: Supplied

Following the crash, Ms Finch sought to reach out to those who helped her in her time of need.

“I’m appealing to the community, so I can personally express my heartfelt gratitude for coming to my aid after such a devastating accident,” she said.

While she has since been put in contact with the medical professional who stopped by to render assistance, British man Stuart Maitland-Knibb, she is yet to be put in contact with the mystery woman who was first on scene.

“I am hoping that this appeal gets to her and that I can personally thank her for doing what she could do to help me at the time,” she said.

“People don’t often think about doing the right thing, but it can make such a big difference to the person who needs the help.

“I’m very grateful that they came to my aid as quickly as they did.”

Ms Finch faces a long road to recovery and while she is holding onto hope she maybe able to walk again, she has been busy making preparations to her home ahead of a possible April discharge.

“I haven’t severed my spine, so there’s always a possibility that I could gain function again,” she said.

“Due to the nature of my injury, you really need to wait 12 to 18 months to know how much functionality you might get back, so it’s just a long road to recovery.

“I’ll never stop giving up trying to stand up and walk again.”