‘I owe it all to you blokes’: Tyler Rowe reunited with life-saving surgeons

Tyler Rowe quietly walked through Ward F of Royal Perth Hospital’s trauma unit – the first time he’s returned to the ward he spent 11 days clinging to life in an induced coma.

The teenage survivor of a crash that killed his friend Nick Campo was waiting to be reunited with the surgeons who kept him alive.

“It’s a bit of a weird thing being in this room, I didn’t think I ever would be, I didn’t hope I ever would be,” he told 9News Perth and WAtoday.

The 18-year-old suffered critical brain, spine and internal organ injuries, as well as a broken neck, jaw and hip. He and Campo were two of four teenage passengers in a ute that collided with a car on Farrington Road in July.

“I can’t remember it but seeing everyone I walk past [in the trauma unit] just makes me think, ‘that was me’,” Rowe said.

“I just really wish that we didn’t get into the car, get into the crash.”

Professor Dieter Weber is head of the trauma unit at Royal Perth Hospital is holding a thick file filled with Tyler Rowe’s injuries.

“This is just volume one,” Weber said.

When he woke from his coma, Rowe was given a 50-50 chance of living in a permanent vegetative state, but last week he walked back into a room full of trauma unit staff.

“I pretty much owe my life, owe it all to you blokes,” he told them.

The once-rising footy star returned to RPH, not for a check-up, but to share his story with teens in the PARTY Program – Prevent Alcohol and Risk-related Trauma in Youth.

Tyler Rowe meeting the surgeons that saved his life.

“I’m here to talk about my story, what I’ve been through,” he told the school students.

“It definitely changed my life. I lost one of my good mates in the crash too, it’s really hard for me and his family who I’ve gotten quite close to.”

PARTY Program manager Lola Sikora said students needed to hear from victims like Rowe.

“A split second decision pushed by peer pressure can actually change the trajectory of not their life but their friend’s life,” Sikora said.

“Having presenters that have suffered brain injury or spinal cord injury is really powerful because the students see the impact it has on their life.”

Rowe hopes teens who hear his message change their driving behaviour.

“Hopefully they’re going to walk away from this and not just think about my story but think about what would happen with their families if they were in my shoes,” Rowe said.

The 17-year-old driver accused of manslaughter over Nick Campo’s death is behind bars.

Rowe wants tougher laws for P-Platers, including stricter mobile phone use, limits on modified cars and more police on WA roads.

“I reckon I’ve seen more cops in Narrogin than I have in Perth... I just think a lot more cops on the road, as much as everyone doesn’t like it, will keep the road toll down,” Rowe said.

On Thursday Road Safety Minister David Michael launched the new Red Plate, One Mate campaign to spread the message about WA’s new P-plater laws coming into effect from December 1.

From December 1 red P-plate drivers will be restricted to carrying only one passenger in their vehicles at all times.