Swellnet Dispatch Darren Longbottom: Homeward Bound

In: Swellnet Dispatch by 0 Comments Wed 25th Feb '09

Tags: darren Longbottom , dr derek allen , troppodoc

In May last year Kiama surfer Darren Longbottom left to go on a two week surf trip to the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia. At the end of this week – 10 months after he left - he's coming home. The story of how Darren injured himself might be familiar to most Australian surfers by now, but for the sake of continuity I'll quickly repeat it.

 

While surfing at one of the outlying islands Daz broke his neck after flicking off the back of a wave. His board recoiled just before diving into the water and he landed on it head-first. The impact broke his board in two and also broke his C6 & C7 vertabrae.

 

His mates that he was surfing with rescued him by jet-ski, getting him back to the boat. The real ordeal then began as they attempted to stabilise him without pain relief and get him transferred to medical help as quick as possible.

 

After getting the boat back to Sikikap on the Mentawai mainland they requested the help of Dr Derek Allen of Troppo Doc fame who flew his helicopter in for the rescue mission. Despite being tight on space and low on fuel, the good doctor whisked Daz away to safety. Till he realised he was short on daylight.

 

Flying without GPS, radio or radar, Doctor Derek landed the helicopter on a soccer field, interupting a local game. He then called an ambulance to drive Daz the rest of the way to the airport. Which they did....only to find it closed.

 

Fortunately for Daz the farcial affairs ended here as doctors called from Singapore intercepted him and gave him pain relief and immediate medical help. It had been 20 hours since the accident happened.

 

In Singapore Darren was operated on, though it wasn't without complications as, at one stage, his lungs collapsed, filled with fluid and he was on the verge of pneumonia. His wife Aimee and other family members flew to Singapore to join him during this period.

 

After 3 weeks in Singapore, and with his condition stabilised, he was allowed to fly back to Australia, where he was admitted to the spinal unit of Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital. Daz spent 3 months in the RNS spinal unit and for the last 5 months has been at the Moorong Spinal Rehab centre at Ryde.

 

The latest assessment is that Daz has feeling down to his armpits and can move his arms, although he has limited movement in his fingers. While he is confined to a wheelchair, he's going for his drivers license this week so he can cruise around Kiama.

 

In July last year, while Daz was in RNS, friends of his organised a charity night at Shellharbour Workers Club. The night was a huge success with $160 000 raised. This money has helped to pay the expensive medical bills and also to fit out Darren's house for wheelchair access for when he comes home.

 

The list of people that Daz would like to thank is long – far too long to note down here. However, he would like to give special thanks to Steve Conti who initially came up with the idea for the fundraiser and was the main guy to put it together.

 

*******

 

Darren would like to thank Dr Derek Allen who rescued him in the Mentawai's. Dr Derek's medical knowledge, flying skills and calm reassurance got him through what may have been a grave situation.

Dr Derek has a website: www.troppodoc.com. Check it out for information on the good doctor's deeds in Indonesia and Pakistan. Troppodoc has no corporate backing and sustains itself by the charity of kind-hearted financial donors. If you'd like to donate click on 'Financial Support' on his website.// STUART NETTLE