Sunshine Coast triathlete Alexa Leary moves to brain injury rehabilitation unit after July 17 cycling crash

Sunshine Coast triathlete Alexa Leary who was severely injured during a horror cycling crash has walked down the hospital hallway for the first time. Watch the video

The father of a popular Sunshine Coast triathlete who was severely injured in a cycling crash has described the moment he watched her walk down the hospital hallways for the first time.

Alexa Leary, 20, has taken a major step forward in her rehabilitation process after she was transported to the brain injury rehabilitation unit in Brisbane on Wednesday.

A video, posted on social media on Sunday, shows the young woman walk about 300m surrounded by some staff down a Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital hallway.

Her father Russell said he was absolutely amazed to see his once active daughter walk with little help again.

“The other morning she walked for 300m so to think how far she has come is absolutely amazing,” he said.

“She still needs people to hold her for balance but to see her up and moving really is incredible.

“Her memory is still very minimal but she can hold four or five words together when speaking.

“She knows who we are but there is still a long way to go with her memory and her brain refunctioning properly.”

The successful triathlete, who embarked on her professional career 11 months ago, spent the last 74 days at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital after a horror cycling crash in Pomona on July 17.

She was placed in an induced coma and suffered major injuries including a fractured scapula, shoulder blade, wrist, ribs, a collapsed lung and serious nerve damage.

An Instagram post with a photo of Leary surrounded by hospital staff farewelling the hospital has received more than 33,500 likes and 350 comments.

Mr Leary said the move to BIRU was a huge positive.

“RBWH has been brilliant for the medical side of things and with the physio too but she needed more of it,” he said.

“We knew all along BIRU is where she had to go to start her rehab so this is a massive step forward.”

Alexa Leary has been progressively trying to walk and talk on her own since the accident on July 17.

The move to the rehab unit means family will be unable to see the young triathlete for an uncertain time.

Mr Leary said it would be difficult.

“BIRU has a strict visitors policy and it’s going to be hard for us but I respect that as it is a real knuckle down and get the job done scenario,” he said.

“It’s hard that we won’t be with her but it allows her to focus on what needs to be done.

“It’s been a crazy past few months but she’s moving forward and that’s the main thing.”

This news comes after many Australian athletes and celebrities showed their support for Ms Leary through social media.