Chris Perry, of Buderim, determined to walk again following freak push bike accident

A beloved family man and footy player is determined to walk again after a freak bicycle accident while camping left him with no feeling below his neck.

Chris Perry with his children in hospital. Picture - contributed.

A beloved Sunshine Coast family man and footy player is determined to walk again after a freak push bike accident while camping left him with no feeling below his neck.

Chris Perry, 38, of Buderim, was staying at a local caravan park with his wife, children, and family friends over the school holidays when his life changed forever.

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

Mr Perry was riding at night with a handful of mates in search of more firewood.

Chris Perry loves being active and outdoors. Picture - contributed.

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

Mrs Perry said she was woken up and went out to see him sprawled on the campground with his concerned friends by his side.

“He said he couldn’t feel anything. His mate was holding his hand and he couldn’t feel it,” she said.

“We didn’t think it was too bad at first just that he was in shock.

“It’s not like he was screaming or crying in pain or anything. He just couldn’t feel anything.”

Chris and Ambre Perry. Picture - contributed.

Mr Perry was flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane that evening.

While driving to Brisbane with her mother the next day, Mrs Perry said the doctor called and said her husband had broken his back but was okay.

They then called again to deliver the devastating news.

“They said it was actually his neck and he was in an emergency operation,” Mrs Perry said.

Chris and Ambre Perry on their wedding day. Picture - contributed.

The surgery took six hours and afterwards Mr Perry was put on a breathing tube.

“They told me he might be on the breathing tube for the rest of his life. It was awful,” she said.

“It was all just such a shock and it happened out of nowhere.”

Mr Perry broke his neck in two places, his C3 and C4, and also damaged his spinal cord.

Chris Perry in hospital. Picture - contributed.

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

Through sheer grit and determination Mr Perry has already proven them wrong.

Two weeks post push bike accident and Mr Perry is able to wiggle left toes and move his upper left leg and arm to the side just slightly. He can’t move his right side at all.

Chris and Ambre Perry with their children. Picture - contributed.

He’s still too weak to be in a wheelchair though and spends his days in a hospital bed – waiting for a bed in rehab.

“We’re hopeful but you just don’t know,” Mrs Perry said.

“He’s very positive which I think helps with the recovery.

“He’s a very kind person who has lots of friends and a big support network. He’s a lot of fun and just very positive in general.

Ambre Perry is amazed by her husband’s positivity. Picture - contributed.

“We’re hopeful that with time he can be more independent. You hear stories of it and people recovering.”

Mr Perry works with his wife at PerryCooper Property, plays AFL for the Mudjimba Jets and is very fit and active.

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

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

It’s these reasons why he won’t give up his fight to walk again.

“He’s determined to walk again,” Mrs Perry said.

“He still has his days... but if that was me I wouldn’t anywhere near as positive as him.

“I’m so proud of his determination and positive attitude.”

Originally published as Chris Perry, of Buderim, determined to walk again following freak push bike accident