Lauren Parker back from brink for Commonwealth Games chance

LAUREN Parker starts a new chapter in her life on Saturday, 354 days after she was convinced she had little to live for.

LAUREN Parker starts a new chapter in her life on Saturday, 354 days after she was convinced she had little to live for.

Parker suffered horrific injuries in a freak bike crash on April 18 last year while training for the Ironman Australia championships.

In an almost inexplicable turn of events, the front and rear tyre on Parker’s new bike blew simultaneously, sending her into a roadside barrier at more than 40km/h.

She punctured her lung and broke ribs, her shoulder blade, pelvis and fractured her back causing damage to her spinal cord, with doctors giving her only a one per cent chance of walking again.

After emergency surgery in Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital, Parker was transferred to Sydney’s Royal North Shore for extensive rehabilitation but battled mental as well as physical demons.

“I feel like I’ve lost my whole life,” she told the Newcastle Herald shortly after her accident.

Those around her though never wavered in their support.

The characteristics that they saw in Parker as an able-bodied athlete helped drive her recovery and eventual return to triathlon.

Triathlete Emma Jeffcoat, who won her first World Cup race at Mooloolaba last month, is also a qualified nurse who was on duty at Royal North Shore last May when Parker was in the spinal rehabilitation unit.

“I saw what happened to Lauren and that she was in the spinal rehab (unit) which is on the same level as the Intensive Care Unit at Royal North Shore,” Jeffcoat said.

The Commonwealth Games para triathlete team: (from left) Emily Tapp, Sara Tait, Lauren Parker, Bill Chaffey, Nic Beveridge and Scott Crowley. Picture Mike Batterham

“So I went for a few hours one day on my shift and sat and spoke with her.

“I won’t say too much about what was said but she wasn’t in a good place.

“And I said to her: ‘I honestly see you going out there and making a Comm Games team and racing again, you just have to set yourself a goal like any athlete does. That will motivate you to get stronger and come back’.”

A Newcastle local, Parker had access to some of the best para coaches and athletes in the country at her disposal.

She has been training alongside athletics legend Kurt Fearnley — who unsuccessfully tried to convince her to race marathons — and his coach Andrew Dawes and inching her way towards a triathlon comeback.

“Training with Kurt, he’s so supportive and I’ve had some good sessions with him,” Parker said.

“I’m very lucky to have him and Andrew in my home town and to train with the best in the world and one of the best coaches, I’m very lucky.”

Lauren Parker competing in the Luke Harrop Triathlon in February. Picture: Mike Batterham

Parker made her comeback to racing at St Kilda in February, completing the event in front of a bevie of supporters.

“It’s what I love, I love racing and I’m so excited to be back racing,” she said.

“It’s so soon after my accident to be back, I can’t describe it.

“I’ve only been on the racing chair for six weeks and the handcycle, so to be able to complete it in an OK time, I’m really happy.”

A week later, she completed the Luke Harrop event on the Gold Coast and was named in the Commonwealth Games team.

“When I saw the Comm Games team announcement and saw Lauren made the team I couldn’t help but shed a few tears,” Jeffcoat said.

“Six months ago I saw this girl in a hospital bed and she didn’t see what she had left in life.

“I’ll be watching and I’ll just be so proud of her.

“Regardless of the result — I don’t think it’s about that — I just think for her to have turned her life around from not knowing what she would do the next day (to being a Comm Games athlete) is amazing.”

Originally published as Lauren Parker back from brink for Commonwealth Games chance