Will Murray back at Brighton Grammar after long haul since pier accident

MIRACLE boy Will Murray is back at school. It’s been a long haul, since he became a quadriplegic in an accident jumping off a pier in January.

Will Murray, who has returned to school, with schoolmates Darcy McConnon, Hamish Gee Kuba Williams and Darby Hipwell. Picture: Norm Oorloff

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MIRACLE boy Will Murray is back at school.

It’s been a long haul to get here, since becoming a quadriplegic in January in an accident jumping off a pier. And there is still a long way to go, but Will is determined.

For the past three weeks he’s been back at Brighton Grammar middle school for two half-days a week. At lunchtime the school is a crazy, noisy, boisterous buzz of boys — and right in the thick of it is Will, in his wheelchair, loving every minute.

Will Murray. Picture: Alex Coppel

Although he can propel himself masterfully around school, plenty of mates are eager to give him a helping push, sometimes at speed, sometimes running over other kids’ toes.

“It’s good, seeing my mates and stuff. I’m slowly getting into it,” said Will, whose accident ended a promising football future.

Despite having all year off school and his life changing drastically, Will wasn’t nervous about returning to class.

“I’d been seeing my mates every week before that,” he said. “I just do what I used to do, be myself, and that helps. I reckon I’ve come far.”

At first he just came for lunchtime; now he attends English and maths classes and hopes to catch up on those subjects by the end of the year.

Will is a nominee in this year’s Pride of Australia Awards in recognition of his courage and “willpower” in the eight months since he damaged his C5 vertebra jumping from the pier at Half Moon Bay, Black Rock.

Before his injuries he last year won the league best and fairest while playing for Sandringham East in the Southern Metropolitan Junior Football League and he was a Sandringham Sabres rep basketballer.

After his accident a trust fund was created to help cover costs, and sporting stars including Lenny Hayes, Dane Swan, Andrew Bogut and US Super Bowl players posted videos and messages of support.

Will Murray with Richmond players Dylan Grimes and Trent Cotchin. Picture: Alex Coppel

On hearing that fellow students looked up to him, the down-to-Earth year 8 student said: “I guess it’s a good thing. I don’t really mind.”

Brighton Grammar’s Tim Marshall, who is head of year 7, head of sport and was Will’s English teacher and footy coach last year, was pleased to have him back. The boys saw him as a role model and hero, Mr Marshall said: “They see him as the same old Will.”

He would have understood if Will had anxieties about returning, but that didn’t seem to be the case. And the boys weren’t tiptoeing around him.

“He was an incredible athlete. A lot of boys have realised that is nothing compared to Will’s battle since January. He’s proven himself on the sports field over the years, but now he’s proven himself when his back is against the wall.”

Will Murray has returned to school part-time. Picture Norm Oorloff

Dad Nick Murray said his son’s strength of character had proven critical not only for him, but for the whole family.

“His attitude to everything that has happened to him has been quite incredible,” he said.

“He’s probably well within his rights to feel angry and pissed off and say ‘poor me’ and have that sort of attitude.”

Mr Murray said Will was in a “good place” about 95 per cent of the time.

“He has had moments when it’s been really tough for him, but most of the time he really doesn’t seem any different to what he was before.”

Mr Murray said when Will concentrated hard he could “get some twitching going” in his fingers and toes. “The biggest thing we’ve noticed is an increase in involuntary movement. The nervous system in his legs is very active. We are still hopeful this will translate into voluntary as he continues to do his rehab.”

Mr Murray said Will’s dedication was paying off.

“He lost nearly 15kg in hospital and he was very weak as a result of not doing anything for so long,” Mr Murray said.

Now, having built up enough muscle to move his wheelchair on his own, he is working on getting in and out of the chair unaided.

Will Murray in hospital with friend Finn Verberne. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Will did two three-hour intensive sessions each week at the Neuromoves rehab centre at Whitten Oval on harnesses, treadmills and stationary bikes, which he pedalled by electrodes stimulating his leg muscles. Three times a week a trainer came to his home for two hours. He spent time in a “standing frame” every other day, which was important for his muscle memory.

He had acupuncture twice a week, massages, mindfulness training, visualisation and meditation, which Mr Murray said were important to help him focus on sending messages from his brain to his body.

Will’s family and community are raising money to pay for his rehabilitation. To donate, visit wheretheresawill.com.au

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