Jake Archer suffers spinal injury in horror crash at Delan

The pregnant partner of a 26-year-old Qld oil rigger, who suffered a severed spinal cord in a devastating dirt bike crash, has bravely spoken out from his hospital bedside.

Jake Archer and his partner Ashlee Thornell.

It should be the most exciting time of Jake Archer’s life.

Instead, the young father-to-be is being treated in hospital for a devastating spinal injury caused by a horror crash with his loving partner and family by his side.

Jake was critically injured when the dirt bike he was riding collided with another vehicle at Delan in the Bundaberg region on Monday.

Emergency services were called to the scene after the crash happened at Hand Court, Delan, at 1.43pm.

The Bundaberg LifeFlight helicopter was sent to the scene at 1.50pm to a stretch of road in Delan, 30 minutes west of Bundaberg.

Crash victim Jake Archer.

His partner Ashlee Thornell, who is four months pregnant with their baby, was 40 minutes away from the crash scene when she got the news.

She made it there just in time to give him a kiss before he was flown to Brisbane Royal and Women's Hospital.

The couple are high school sweethearts who have been together for nine years.

Speaking to this publication on Wednesday, Ashlee described Jake as the hardest worker she knew, who would do anything for her and his family.

“He is funny, kind, protective,” she said.

Jake Archer and his partner Ashlee Thornell.

“So patient with me, knows me better than I know myself.

“He is the love of my life and I would have no idea how to survive without him, he is all I know.”

Despite the devastating news, Ashlee said they were trying to stay positive.

Jake’s spinal cord was severed in the crash, and doctors have warned he will likely never walk again.

LifeFlight. A man in his 20s has been flown to hospital after suffering injuries to his spine.

“He will be the best dad, even though he won’t be able to walk and will be in a wheelchair, it won't stop him from being the best he can be,” Ashlee said.

“We are just trying to get through the now, it’s going to be a long road ahead of us but (we) have to stay positive and strong for Jake and the baby.

Jake Archer and his partner Ashlee Thornell.

“He keeps saying he is alive and will be here to raise his son.”

Ashlee said she knew they could get through it.

“I’m just so grateful he’s alive because I wouldn’t know what to do without him.

“His arms still work so he will get to hold our son, it will be hard, but we have got this.”

Jake had been working on the oil rigs for Silver City, who have paid for two weeks’ accommodation for Ashlee in Brisbane so she can be by his side.

The young couple live in Bundaberg where they own a home together.

Jake’s family lives in Hervey Bay.

His sister Laura has started a GoFundMe page for the couple to ease the financial burden on the couple as the future remains unclear.

She said Jake had been bleeding out when two people raced to his aid and managed to stem the bleeding until help arrived.

Laura said the GoFundMe page had raised about $3000 for the couple, with a target of $30,000.

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Originally published as Jake Archer suffers spinal injury in horror crash at Delan