Paul Aylett gets immense support from skating community after injury

The community has come together to raise money for an Albury father who sustained serious injuries at a skate meet last month. Read how you can help.

Paul Aylett fell at Orbost Skatepark while attending the 2023 Bairnsdale Skate Meet and sustained a spiral fracture extending to his lower right leg.

The Victorian skating community has united to raise money for an Albury rollerskater after he was seriously injured at a skate event last month.

Albury’s Paul Aylett was looking forward to a great trip with his two boys at the 2023 Bairnsdale Skate Meet at Orbost Skatepark last month before he fell and sustained a serious injury.

Mr Aylett, who has been doing aggressive inline skating since the age of 15, said he had taken a lot of falls but this one was “a bit different”.

“I came up to do the transition front shifty [which means] your feet are down a bit- so it’s a grind. And I didn’t realise it was just a bit more slippery on the metal than usual,” Mr Aylett said.

“[It] came off different than normal because obviously, you do fall a lot so your body prepares itself in certain ways, but this one was a bit different and twisted around. I landed on the flat surface of a skate park.”

Mr Aylett sustained a spinal fracture as well as a spiral fracture down his lower leg and had a steel rod inserted through his knee.

It means he must wear a knee brace for the next few months.

Paul Aylett fell at Orbost Skatepark while attending the 2023 Bairnsdale Skate Meet last and was taken to Bairnsdale Hospital in an emergency.

Mr Aylett said his everyday life had been hugely impacted by the injury as he is unable to walk.

His friend Kyns-Lee Tan started the fundraiser to help ease the financial burden of the hospital bills, surgery, physical therapy, and living expenses until he can return to work.

The fundraiser has so far raised more than $1000 of the $5000 goal.

Mr Aylett, who is the sole provider for his wife and four kids, said the money raised had helped him both financially and mentally.

“I had a little bit of sick leave, and that draws up quite quickly, so it has helped a lot financially but also psychologically with everyone messaging,” he said.

“The skating community is a very tight-knit community. I don't even know or had a chance to meet some of these people that have sent money, and here they are. This country is quite tight these days. So even just for some person to give $50, it means so much to us.”

“The GoFundMe helps in just so many different ways. You know that people are out there, and they do care because it can get quite depressing when you're stuck in a chair all day.”

Paul Aylett with his two boys. Picture: Supplied

Mr Aylett‘s injury will prevent him from getting back on his feet and getting to work for the next few months, but the aggressive inline skater said he was both nervous and excited to get back on the blades.

“I'm excited to the point that I can’t wait but am nervous and afraid that it might affect my level of where I’m at; I fear I might not get on that level again, and so I’m afraid I might not love it as much,” he said.

However, Mr Aylett is optimistic the support from the skating community and his two young boys will help him win over the fear.

“I'm still down at the skate park in Albury because of my sons, watching and encouraging them and encouraging our fellows, and they’re encouraging me. We’re only a small group, but it’s a great group.”

To give your support, click here.