Curlewis boy Harvey Swindells on the mend after scary bike crash

A single Bellarine mother has been left in a tight spot after her son received a suite of scary injuries while her other son recovers from luekemia.

12-year-old Curlewis boy Harvey Swindells was in a bike crash on July 13.

A single Bellarine mother has been left in a tight spot after her son received a suite of scary injuries while her other son recovers from luekemia.

On July 13, adventurous 12-year-old Curlweis boy Harvey Swindells went to parklands to ride his bike with friends.

Crashing after miscalculating a jump, Harvey’s mates sprung into action, keeping him still and calling his mother, Mallory Thomson.

“Bless them,” Ms Thomson said.

“They put their jumpers over him and helped keep him warm and safe until the ambos got there.

Harvey back at home.

“Given there were two unstable fractures in hi neck, it could have been much worse.”

Ms Thomson rushed to the scene, but the excruciating wait for an ambulance took an hour-and-a-half, with State Emergency Services vehicles required to assist.

“All the ambulances in Geelong were attending other jobs, so we had to get one from Lara,” she said.

“We needed to get the SES in, it was raining and it was dark, there was no vehicle access.

“They had to walk him out on a stretcher, which the ambos couldn’t do on their own.”

Harvey was assessed at Geelong hospital, where it was discovered he had a broken neck and back.

“Essentially they put him in the vacuum bag and transported him to the Royal Children's,” Mr Thomson said.

Harvey’s back was broken in two places.

Harvey’s injuries could have been much worse, had the bone severed the spinal chord in the area’s his neck broke, it could have rendered him unable to breath on his own.

It took a few days to assess all of his injuries, which included a broken wrist, fractured sternum and multiple fractured and bruised ribs.

Harvey is now in a full metal neck brace, but is back home and walking around.

“He’s up and about and giving me a fair bit of attitude,” Ms Marshall said.

Ms Thomson was already familiar with the hospital.

Her 11-year-old son Roman was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in 2023, which forced her to take a year off work without pay.

After multiple bouts of chemotherapy and countless trips to the hospital, things are looking up for Roman.

“Unfortunatley it’s a home away from home,” she said.

“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster, but we’re just happy both of both of the boys.

“Harvey could have had spinal damage, and Roman had a very aggressive from of leukaemia and had every risk factor for noth having a good outcome, but he’s in remission and nearly finished treatment.”

“They’re both very resilient kids.”

Ms Marshall has set up a GoFundMe to raise money to be able to buy Harvey items to assist with his schooling.

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Originally published as Curlewis boy Harvey Swindells on the mend after scary bike crash