Gavin Zeunert spent nine hours in surgery after shattering both legs – and lived to remember it

The loving partner of a motorbike rider left for dead in an alleged hit and run has revealed his horrific injuries – and the long road to recovery.

A motorbike rider underwent nine hours of surgery and shattered both his legs after an unlicensed driver allegedly left him for dead in a hit and run crash.

Avid drummer and amateur fisherman Gavin Zeunert, 39, was riding home from work on Tuesday afternoon to prepare for a fishing trip, when he was struck by a car allegedly driving on the wrong side of the Flinders Highway.

Mr Zeunert, of Thevenard on the far west coast, was lifted into the air and struck the bitumen, when by chance a relative drove past and called triple-0.

According to fiance Christie Bubner, 47, she arrived to find him “fully conscious” but bleeding with skin coming off his right arm.

Gavin Zeunert underwent nine hours of surgery and shattered both of his legs after an unlicensed driver allegedly struck him in a hit and run crash. Picture: Supplied

“He told me he remembered everything,” Ms Bubner said.

“He remembered hitting the car and getting thrown in the air and landing. He thought his legs were both gone.

“He’s had metal rods in one leg and on the other one they have this mechanical support to keep it in place.

“I was probably more worried that he was … He was trying to reassure me that everything was going to be okay.”

Mr Zeunert (second from left) with fiance Christie Bubner (third from left) and relatives. Picture: Supplied

He is an avid drummer and plays for far west coast band Limited Addiction. Picture: Supplied

Mr Zeunert was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he remains, and was taken out of an induced coma on Friday.

Doctors have told his family that he will have to relearn to walk and that a full recovery may take up to twelve months.

Loved ones have rallied behind Mr Zeunert with a GoFundMe page to cover medical costs, but Ms Bubner said she remains worried about her partner’s quality of life going forward.

She described him as “full of life” with a love of animals, the couple keeping dogs, cats and wildlife on their property.

“Music and fishing is his life – we go fishing probably five times a week, every night – and I just hope that he can keep doing it,” she said.

An SA Police spokesman said that a 35-year-old man was reported for leaving the scene of an accident and driving unlicensed in relation to the crash.

He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au.

Originally published as Gavin Zeunert spent nine hours in surgery after shattering both legs – and lived to remember it