Quiksilver Pro: Owen Wright completes fairytale surfing comeback after brain injury

A YEAR ago Owen Wright could barely walk or talk and couldn’t surf at all. On Sunday he did something many wondered if he would ever do again — raised his arm in triumph.

A very happy Owen Wright celebrates his win.

THIS time a year ago Owen Wright could barely walk or talk and couldn’t surf at all.

On Sunday the likeable Aussie surfer did something many, including himself, wondered if he would ever do again — raised his arm in triumph.

“It could have taken me out forever,’’ Wright said of the brain injury he sustained in a horrific wipeout at Pipeline on December 20, 2015, which left his speech, balance and movement impaired. “It’s a cliche, but this really is a dream.

“There were a lot of fears to push through to get back into the sport that pretty much took me out, and could’ve taken me out forever, and to have that final with one of my best mates, I’m just over the moon.”

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In one of sports most emotional and extraordinary comebacks, Wright claimed the world No. 1 ranking in his first event since the accident, beating best mate and defending Quiksilver Pro champion Matt Wilkinson for the top prize at Snapper Rocks.

Owen Wright in action at the Quiksilver Pro.

Riding high. Owen being chaired by his brother and sister.

Wright cried, Wilkinson, who was at Pipeline when his mate injured himself, cried, world champion sister Tyler Wright cried, fellow surfers cried and there was barely a dry eye as the 27-year-old was chaired up the beach after his victory.

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“I’ve cried a lot today. Hugged a lot as well,’’ Wilkinson told the Daily Telegraph.

“To surf in a final against my best mate and win, I’m stoked.’’

Wright, a new dad, said he feels like a “lucky’’ man.

Defending champion Matt Wilkinson was beaten by his great mate in the final.

“There are so many good things in my life right now. My past is my past,’’ Wright said,

“I feel like I am a better person for what I have been through.’’

Wright was chaired up the beach by surfer brother Mickey and world champion sister Tyler in tears after his defeat of best mate Wilkinson in the final.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to have been in that final with Owen,’’ Wilkinson said,.

“For him to do what he didm, come back from where he’s been ins one of the most inspirational things I have seen.’’