Spinal tragedies hit home for Coast nippers

The impacts of split-second decisions have hit home for Coast nippers who listened to the harrowing stories of two spinal injury survivors.

Maroochydore surf lifesaving club director of junior activities Jason O'Pray, Darron Shields, nipper captains Bonnie Jarrott and Oscar Starr-Thomas, Rob Croll and Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club president Rob Elford catch up after a safety presentation. Picture: Supplied.

The heartbreaking stories of how split-second decisions changed the lives of two spinal injury survivors have hit home for a group of Coast nippers.

Paraplegic Benefit Fund representatives Darron Shields and Rob Croll shared their personal stories of spinal injuries with Maroochydore Nippers, stressing the importance of awareness and injury prevention in and near the water.

Rob Croll shared his story of being a typical young Queensland dad and surfer before a miscalculated dive off his board into shallow waters ended in tragedy.

“It was just a moment of distraction, but it changed my life forever,” he said.

“My wife and my father-in-law pulled me out of the water and to shore.

“I survived, but I’ve only been on a beach a handful of times since.”

After eight months in hospital and countless surgeries, Rob adapted to his life as a quadriplegic.

He told the kids it took him about three hours to get up and out of the door on any given morning.

“Every single task in life is now more difficult,” he said.

Rob Croll shares his personal experience of spinal cord injury with Maroochydore Nippers. Picture: Supplied

Mr Shields, who became a paraplegic in a road accident 18 years ago, said he hoped his story saved others from the same fate.

“We share our story so you can understand that making the right choices and choosing the right behaviours can help you prevent being injured,” he said.

“I hope that our talk today will help you think twice about the risks in the aquatic environment.”

The pair spoke encouraged the nippers to always:

– Enter feet first, first time

– Check the depth

– Look for submerged objects

– Check for sandbanks

– Know the power of the surf and dumping waves

Sunshine Coast councillor and Maroochydore surf lifesaving director of junior activities Jason O’Pray said hearing the mens’ stories made all the attendees sit up and listen.

Maroochydore Nippers captains Oscar Starr-Thomas and Bonnie Jarrott thanked the guest speakers and encouraged questions from the audience.

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