Chris Perry, of Buderim, walks out of hospital following freak push bike accident

A beloved father and footy gun has defied the odds, miraculously walking out of hospital despite being paralysed from the neck down four months ago after a tragic bike accident. VIDEO

Three months ago a determined father was told he’d never walk again – kickstarting his goal to get one per cent better each day.

Today, through sheer grit and determination, he proved everyone wrong.

Sunshine Coast Chris Perry, 39, was met with an emotional applause as he miraculously left Sunshine Coast University Hospital one step at a time.

“It’s been quite emotional,” Mr Perry said.

“It’s been a long road and there’s still a lot to go.”

Mr Perry was tragically left paralysed from his neck in June after a freak bike accident while camping during the school holiday break.

Doctors said he would be a quadriplegic for life and would never walk again, with no feeling or movement below his neck.

Chris Perry, of Buderim, walks out of hospital following freak push bike accident. Picture – Madeline Grace.

Wife Ambre Perry said it was their second night away, June 15, on what was supposed to be a two-week camping trip, when her husband was involved in a bicycle accident.

He was riding at night with a handful of mates in search of firewood.

It was dark, he was riding slowly, at about 10pm, and hit a raised chain which appeared out of nowhere.

“I was on my bike and then next minute I’m on the ground,” Mr Perry said.

“It was like a lightswitch just turned my whole body off.

“I was in spinal shock. I broke my C3 and my C4 and damaged my spinal cord.”

Chris Perry in hospital in July. Picture – contributed.

Determined to defy the odds, Mr Perry worked hard every day, bit by bit, to improve.

When leaving hospital he was wearing a shirt which said ‘one per cent better every day’.

“That was my motto,” he explained.

“I always knew that I would get better. I didn’t want to settle on never being able to walk again.

“But I also didn’t want to set too big of goals...I didn’t know the path I was heading down and didn’t want to set goals too far ahead of myself so I could never get disappointed.”

Chris Perry couldn’t wait to return home to his wife Ambre Perry. Picture – Madeline Grace.

It was the small wins, like moving his finger, which kept Mr Perry motivated.

“I couldn’t take that news. That wasn’t the end for me. I’m 39 and I’ve still got a lot of stuff and plans I want to do in my life,” he said.

“I never really read into it too much.”

Turning to his family, the lights of his life, Mr Perry couldn’t contain his grin.

“Daddy had a sore neck didn’t he? That was it,” he said.

“My wife has been my rock the whole time. I have the best support I could ever have here with me.”

Chris Perry, of Buderim, walks out of hospital following freak push bike accident. Picture – Madeline Grace.

Mrs Perry has been looking after their two young children, running the business PerryCooper Property, and has been at the hospital nearly every day for lunch with her husband.

She said it had been a very emotional and hard few months.

“It’s honestly been a miracle he can move at all,” she said.

“He still has limited movement in his right arm and can’t feel below his neck very well. He says he can feel about 30 per cent and it’s not expected to improve too much.

“We’re very excited to have him home. He’s come so far.”

Chris Perry with his family and medical team. Picture – Madeline Grace.

Excited to return home, Mr Perry said he didn’t know what the future held with is spinal cord injury.

“I’m just going to keep striving to get better and I have a few goals I want to set,” he said.

Mr Perry previously worked with his wife at PerryCooper Property, played AFL for the Mudjimba Jets and was fit and active.

He enjoyed playing golf and surfing, spending time with his friends, and doting on his beautiful wife and two school-aged children.

The couple grew up in Noosa and have been together for 18 years – since they were both just teenagers.

Mr Perry said he was eternally grateful to the team at Sunshine Coast University Hospital and will continue his rehabilitation there.

Chris Perry with his family. Picture - Madeline Grace.

Originally published as Chris Perry, of Buderim, walks out of hospital following freak push bike accident