Tradesman Darcy Coulson on life support at the Alfred after wakeboarding accident
A father of two is lucky to be alive after suffering critical injuries in a wakeboarding accident, with his wife now living through an “excruciating” nightmare.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Two twenty two.
That was the time Leah Coulson got a text message from her husband Darcy on the afternoon of Saturday July 5 while he was wakeboarding at a venue southeast of Melbourne.
He told her that he landed a particular manoeuvre while out on the water with their seven-year-old son Sonny.
But when the same number popped on Mrs Coulson’s phone a little later, it was not her partner at the other end of the line.
There had been an accident.
Mr Coulson, 35, had come off his board, hit his head, and spent several minutes unconscious in the water while his son looked on.
He was now fighting for life.
He suffered a brain bleed and oxygen deprivation, ending up in a critical condition and on life support at the Alfred hospital.
Mr Coulson only woke up on Wednesday and was taken out of intensive care on Thursday where managed to stand up.
But he still needs around-the-clock care and, at least for the moment, has an altered state of mind, Mrs Coulson said.
On Thursday, for example, he appeared to believe he was somewhere other than inside a Melbourne hospital.
“I’ve been going home and telling our kids, ‘Dad’s okay – we’ve just got to give him time and he’ll be back kicking the footy and doing everything dad does,’ Mrs Coulson said.
“But they said there’s absolutely no guarantees of anything.
“We won’t have clarity for some time.”
Mr Coulson is an experienced wakeboarder: he’s been involved with the sport since he was young and has recently enjoyed it with his son Sonny.
Outside of recreation, he’s a kind partner and family man who always “shows up,” Mrs Coulson said.
“He works 40 hour weeks, he’s at every sports game, straight after the work boots come off and the Crocs are on and he’s out shooting hoops with Sonny,” she said.
“He’ll play with the kids straight from work to dinner time and then after dinner he’s helping me around the house.”
Sonny and his sister Millie are now having to adjust to home life and school holidays without their dad around.
For Mrs Coulson, the situation is an “excruciating” and painful nightmare.
“I’m just shocked,” she said.
“You lie in bed with your husband, your wife, your partner at night, and you talk about the what ifs.
“But in the back of your mind the what ifs won’t happen.
“We’re living in that what if, that worst case scenario – we’re living in the biggest fear you have.
“I would never wish this on anybody.”
Nearly $16,000 has been raised online for Mr Coulson’s treatment or therapy, the family’s living expenses, and support for the kids – whatever it takes to “bring him home”.
“Everyone’s like ‘Oh, you’re so strong,” Mrs Coulson said.
“I don’t have a choice. I have to show up for my husband.
“He has to get better.
“We need people like him because he truly is just the best.”
