Leopold man Billy Bubb home in Victoria after life-changing crash

Leopold man Billy Bubb, who suffered life-altering injuries after falling from a motorbike in South Australia on New Year’s Eve, has made it home to Victoria.

A LEOPOLD man who suffered life altering injuries after falling from a motorbike in South Australia has made it home to Victoria.

Billy Bubb will likely never walk again after severing his spinal chord while riding at Beachport on New Year’s Eve.

The 22-year-old was lucky to survive the horrific crash, which left him in a coma for 10 days.

Sister Amy Bubb said Billy spent 21 days in the intensive care unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital before being transferred to the spinal unit.

Billy Bubb in his hospital bed.

He was treated for injuries including a severed spinal cord, broken back, severe lung damage and bruising to the brain which has caused brain damage.

More than a month after the accident, Billy was flown to Victoria and is currently completing rehabilitation at the Austin Hospital.

Ms Bubb said it was extremely difficult to watch her funny, active brother struggle with basic tasks, but she said he had come a long way since waking from his coma.

“He spent a total of 21 days in the ICU and most of the time he was on a ventilator and could not breathe by himself,” Ms Bubb said.

“At the start, we didn’t know what the full extent of his brain damage would be.”

Ms Bubb said Billy struggles to speak and write but can communicate with hand gestures and has learned to give the thumbs up.

“We showed him his favourite YouTube show and he loved that,” she said.

Billy Bubb with his dog before the accident.

Billy worked as a machine operator at Lake and Land and was building his first home before the accident.

Ms Bubb, whose younger sister has a complex heart condition and requires care, had been buoyed by Billy’s progress and said they hoped advances in technology could help in the future.

“Being able to see Billy regularly and having him in Melbourne has really taken a weight of our shoulders,” she said.

“The next stage is to get started on his spinal rehab and improving his upper body strength and showing him how he is going.”

Ms Bubb said the family was overwhelmed by support form the community after a GoFundMe was created shortly after the crash.

The community has also organised a fundraiser car event called Billy’s Day by the Bay on March 21 at Portarlington at 10am.

All money will go towards Billy’s recovery and allow the family to make necessary renovations to the house to cater for Billy’s needs when he comes home.

To find out more about the fundraising event search for Billy’s Day by the Bay on Facebook.

Originally published as Leopold man Billy Bubb home in Victoria after life-changing crash