Veterans step in to help ex-serviceman’s son after motorcycle accident
When ex-serviceman Adrian Spencer’s son was left paralysed in a motorcycle accident, his brothers in arms stepped up to help.
Cairns
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The veteran community has rallied around ex-serviceman Adrian Spencer and his family, after his son was left paralysed in a terrible motorcycle accident.
In August this year, Mr Spencer, an ex-serviceman in the Australian Defence Force, received the call no parent wants to hear.
His 21-year-old son Alec had been involved in a motorcycle accident in Redlynch, leaving him paralysed from the waist down.
“He was coming home on his motorbike at the Red Beret and someone did a U-turn in front of him and he crashed into that,” Mr Spencer said.
“It crushed his bike and folded him in half. He broke is T8 (vertebrae), pressed his spine and punctured his lung.”
Alec underwent emergency surgery and spent two months in and out of the intensive care unit at Cairns Hospital.
“Three weeks ago he went to Brisbane to the dedicated spinal unit there, so that’s where he’s been trying to do recovery,” Mr Spencer said.
“He’s still paralysed at the moment, but we’re hopeful he can get something back, even though his spine was compressed, (the vertebrae) wasn’t severed.
“It’s just a really long battle for recovery.”
Fellow serviceman and Pandanus Park War Veteran’s Retreat president Roly Walker said when he heard about Alec’s accident, he immediately wanted to help.
“Alec was such an active kid,” Mr Walker said.
“He loved the outdoors, fishing. He was an outdoor addict and when we heard about the accident … well, it’s horrible for a young kid.”
Mr Walker said he approached the Pandanus Park committee, who raise funds to help the rural township of Laura in Cape York, to set aside some money to help with Mr Spencer’s travel expenses.
“This year with Adrian’s situation, he lives here and he’s a single father of thee kids, so I put it to the Pandanus Park committee and said let’s give him $2000 to help him with his airfares down there and everyone said yes,” Mr Walker said.
In addition to the money, Mr Spencer said Mr Walker had organised accommodation for him in Brisbane while visiting Alec for the Christmas holidays.
“One of the members has a spare downstairs unit so he’s organised that as well, which was helpful because I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to find somewhere in Brisbane for Christmas,” he said.
“Veterans helping each other is what it is.”
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Originally published as Veterans step in to help ex-serviceman’s son after motorcycle accident
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