Hamish Pope: PSO’s incredible recovery after kitesurfing accident

After a kitesurfing accident, Hamish Pope spent weeks in a coma. Now back at work, he’s put his incredible recovery down to one thing.

Hamish Pope has been a PSO for two years. Picture: Jason Edwards

When Hamish Pope woke up from a 28-day coma after a freak kitesurfing accident, his first question was ‘when do I go back to work?’.

The Protective Service Officer did not know that many around him feared the answer was never, unaware of the severity of his injuries or that he had briefly died.

He did not know that he would remain in hospital for another three months, or that he would need to learn to walk and talk again.

But to the delight of his family, friends and colleagues – one of whom likely saved his life – he is now back at work.

Hamish Pope spent four months in hospital after the accident. Picture: supplied

Mr Pope was enjoying a day at the beach with friends in November 2020 when everything changed.

He said a “freak wind picked him up and sent him down onto the sand”, knocking him unconscious.

“My friend Scott Stanley stopped me from being dragged into the bluestone wall,” he said.

“He saved my life.”

Mr Pope was rushed to The Alfred hospital, where surgeons drilled into his skull to relieve pressure on his brain caused by internal bleeding.

He said he died for about 20 seconds – “just quickly” – during the operation.

“It was very scary for (my wife).”

It’s his wife Mishel who Mr Pope speaks of whenever asked about his recovery.

The accident left him with an acquired brain injury and he said he doesn’t know what he would have done without her.

“I don’t know how a person who isn’t married to such a strong person would make it,” he said.

But make it he did.

And more than a year after he asked his shocked wife when he could go to work, he returned to the job he loved in October 2021.

Hamish Pope loves being back at work. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr Pope, who has been a PSO for two years, said he “cannot put it into words how good” he felt on his first day back.

He pointed to the support of his colleagues, the police association and his bosses, who allowed him to make a gradual return to admin duties, working shorter shifts as he learnt to manage his brain injury.

His new boss Victoria Police Senior Sergeant Travis Storti said he was blown away by Mr Pope’s progress.

“My opinion was let’s give him a go and see how it goes and that was it,” he said.

“The look of excitement on his face … it was really good to see him back as part of the team.

“I have got no doubt he will (be operational again).”

Mr Pope doesn’t have any doubt either, and said he cannot wait to return to full duties, “making sure everyone’s getting home safe”.