Doored .
On Tuesday 2nd February, I was feeling pretty good. I had recently finished up on a big project and was officially on the bench (no assigned project). I had felt relieved and was so keen to keep the momentum I’d finally found in my search for balance in life across work, sport and friends/family. I had a few things marked in the diary for the next few months:
- Another ocean swim with my buddy Lizzie
- Training for Run for the Kids in March and my second half marathon in May
- Riding my road bike 2 times a week and putting more structure into training
- Holiday with Mum and Rob to Tasmania in April
- Etc. The list was very, very long :)
I left work at around 4pm, decided heading down Church St then Chapel St would be the best route - I felt comfortable with the directions and knowing there was a bike lane for a fair portion of the ride. I managed to get through the sketchy Johnson St part and had been cruising along thinking about my afternoon run. It was hot - around 34 degrees - and the thought had crossed my mind that jeans weren’t the best choice to commute in. I was moving along Church St (60km/h speed limit) and reached the start of the slope up Richmond Hill (between Bridge Rd and Swan St). I headed up the hill keeping my speed around 15-20km/h.
The next few moments are a bit of a blur but I recall sensing movement in front of me and seeing the driver car door open. The next thing I knew I had been pushed to the right by a car door and I was hit by the car travelling in the lane beside me. The road was so hot, it was incredible. I could feel it burning through my jeans and on my stomach. My back was pretty numb and at first I couldn’t feel my feet but the feeling came back after a few minutes. My first thought was “damn it”, followed by “how am I going to tell my parents about this one?”.
I received so much help from people around me at the time of the crash, including the driver who I hit last, it was really reassuring. I was well looked after with the help of a couple of green whistles and some very caring paramedics. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who helped and wish I could individually thank all of them. The Alfred staff were super and had me in surgery 4 hours after the accident to pin my left leg and stitch a few cuts. Kudos to the anaesthetist Lucy who heard it was my second time there and said “welcome back to Hotel Alfred-o” :)
Turned out that it was harder than expected to call my parents and I didn’t end up telling them until after surgery. My brother was the first to arrive (thanks Rob, owe you one :)), with Mum and Dad coming down the following day. Nikki and Bridge were at the top of my text list too but I don’t think I really knew the extent of my injuries then.
I ended up with:
- 2 fractures in my left tib (lower leg) with a compound fracture, now with a rod
- Fractured acetabulum (hip socket)
- Compression fracture L4/L5 vertebrae
- Fractured sacrum (lower spine)
- Fractured sternum (chest bone)
- Fractured scaphoid
- Plenty of gravel rash
