Aussie dad, 40, ‘fighting for life’ after horrific e-scooter crash
A Queensland father is currently “fighting for life” after an accident on an e-scooter left him with “severe” head injuries.
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A Queensland dad is currently fighting for his life after suffering a horror e-scooter crash that has left him “severely brain damaged” just two days after turning 40.
Michael Valdivia had just swapped his old dirt bike for the electric device on Facebook Marketplace after being involved in a nasty accident on his off-road motorcycle last May.
But after popping to the shops on the new e-scooter on April 27, Mikey — who wasn’t wearing a helmet — had another collision.
This time, it resulted in a traumatic brain injury that doctors aren’t sure he will survive.
His fiancee, Sophie-Leigh Barker-McMurray, said the dad-of-five was only gone for 20 minutes when she received a phone call from police telling her Mikey was in a “bad way”.
“The cop told me to head straight to the hospital because it looked like he might not survive,” the 27-year-old told news.com.au.
“But on my way to the hospital I drove past the scene where Mikey was still being treated on the road, so I pulled over. There were about four ambulances, multiple police cars and a fire truck.
“I ran down, and I could see them intubating him and they put him in an ambo, and I went into complete shock.”
Sophie, who works full-time as a nurse, said she “collapsed” after seeing the state of her partner of three years, with a police officer having to drive her the 30-minute journey to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.
“Doctors took me into a private room because I wasn’t in a good way, but my sister Cassie had met me there, and she was with me when they said, ‘we don’t think he’s going to survive’,” Sophie explained.
“They told me I needed to be ready to say goodbye and to make sure I called all five of our kids and prepared them for what might come.”
Scans showed Mikey had multiple haemorrhages on his brain, including one on his brain stem, prompting doctors to rush him into surgery to fit an ICP monitor in.
An intracranial pressure monitor is a device placed inside the head to record the pressure inside the skull and send vital measurements to a recording device.
He also had a number of broken bones, including a shoulder, a clavicle and several metacarpals.
After being told her fiance would likely not live past the next 72 hours, Sophie said she became “hysterical” and was also admitted into hospital, with doctors explaining she was suffering from broken heart syndrome.
“My body completely shut down. I was placed in the room opposite Mikey so I could see him, but I lost consciousness for a while.
“I’m a nurse and I had never even heard of it before. My blood pressure dropped critically low and I was extremely unwell.”
Following Mikey’s surgery, he was transferred to the ICU. Shortly after, Sophie was strong enough to be discharged, but she camped out by his bedside, praying for her “perfect” partner to survive.
“His specialist sat down with me and just said, ‘we’re really sorry, but the Michael you had won’t even be able to come back,” Sophie told news.com.au through tears.
“If he survives, he is going to be severely disabled, and we don’t know to what extent.
“It felt like such a sledgehammer to the heart. Mikey is the most beautiful soul I have ever met. The love of my life, the rock of our blended family.”
In the three weeks since his accident, Sophie has barely left Mikey’s side, as he continues to fight and defy the odds for survival.
“I’m really hopeful, but I am trying not to get my hopes up too much in case he doesn’t make it, but yesterday he opened his eyes for myself and his eldest son,” she shared.
“I said, ‘Baby, do you remember me?’ and he blinked once, which I took as a yes.
“Everyone in the room was cheering and shouting, ‘Oh my God’. It was a really special moment.”
However, with Mikey unable to work at his construction job, and Sophie spending all her time at the hospital, the family are in a tricky financial situation. A friend has created a GoFundMe page to help cover their living costs.
“Mikey was in a serious E-scooter accident that left him with a severe head injury. He is now in a coma, and heartbreakingly, his condition has barely improved,” it reads.
“Right now, Mikey’s fight for life is ongoing, and his family is by his side every step of the way.
“They are struggling to keep their home, pay bills, and care for their children during this heartbreaking time.”
Sophie said she used her last paycheck to cover their $700-a-week rent which has them covered until May 20, but after that, she has no idea where she will find the money.
“We’ve both always worked, and I hate asking for help, but I can’t see how else we’ll manage,” she said.
“Last year I took three months out of work to care for Mikey after his dirt bike accident, as he broke three vertebrae in his spine. Just a few days before his crash on the e-scooter we’d paid for our flights and accommodation for our Bali wedding in August.
“We just never imagined we’d be in this nightmare situation.”
Queensland Police said it was investigating a single vehicle traffic crash which happened at approximately 7.25pm on April 27.
“A man was riding an electric scooter south along Springfield Parkway when he lost control and crashed,” the statement said.
“The 40-year-old was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital with life threatening head injuries.
“Anyone who witnessed the crash or has any relevant dashcam to assist the investigation is asked to come forward.”
E-scooters first launched in 2016, with the global market now said to be worth more than $49 billion almost a decade on – as data shows it is growing by 10 per cent each year.
But the popular new way to travel, often billed as “eco friendly” and “cheap”, has proved controversial due to safety and public space concerns.
Several cities have now banned the devices, including Paris, San Francisco and Madrid.
But Australia has been more welcoming. The vehicles are currently legal to use in Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and the ACT.
In Victoria, and South Australia, trials are currently in place, with NSW having just legalised e-scooters and bikes on shared paths and on-road bike lanes last week. They remain illegal on footpaths on the state.
Sophie said she doubts their upcoming wedding will go ahead, but is focusing on each day as it comes.
“I’ve absolutely no idea what the future looks like, but right now, I need to support Mikey and our kids.
“We’re all praying for a miracle.”
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