support Craig after horrific helicopter crash

On the 16th of May, Craig Withers from Urban Escape and two close friends were involved in a horrendous helicopter crash in an incredibly remote part of the Northern Territory. 

 

To the astonishment of emergency services, all four passengers survived, albeit with varying degrees of injury and trauma. 

 

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Previous to this incident...

In 2015 Craig suffered a disastrous hip surgery with ongoing complications.

Since then, he has learned to walk again seven times and endured nine surgeries.

At one stage, Craig spent almost 2 yrs permanently in hospital, wheelchair-bound, and it was uncertain if he would be able to walk ever again.

So before being readmitted for another related surgery, Craig took a rare, long overdue break before facing hospital again and further rehabilitation. 

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Sadly, on this break, Craig (along with two close friends) was a passenger in a horrific helicopter crash.

At 3.50pm on Monday, the 16th of May, the helicopter suffered catastrophic engine failure at 130m while travelling at 145 kph.

Investigators from WorkSafe and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau were astounded that anyone survived, considering the aircraft was destroyed after plummeting into huge trees and boulders in extremely thick, dense, remote bushland.

 

The accident's impact was so violent that it still haunts him vividly. 

 

As Craig was in the co-pilot seat (also referred to as the deadman’s seat by emergency services), he took the initial brunt of the impact, causing extremely serious injuries.

Both friends suffered impact injuries consistent with such a crash - cuts, whiplash, bruised ribs, etc... All suffered the psychological trauma of such a violent accident. 

 

While the extent of Craig’s injuries are still under investigation and will be for some time -potentially 3-6 months+ due to the considerable nerve damage...

 

The most significant being:

* broken back in 6 places

* nine severely broken and displaced ribs

* two extensively collapsed lungs 

* sheering of the spinal cord

* compression/sheer of the brachial plexus

* severe psychological trauma 

… along with countless other impact injuries.

Many are still to be identified due to his limited capability to move.  

 

The pilot is fine and evacuated quickly. Unfortunately, dropping on Craig heavily as he exited. 

 

Craig: “I could hear my mate screaming for his wife, which while frightening also meant he was alive, which was good. I couldn’t hear his wife, and sheer terror rushed through me as I didn’t know if she was alive until I heard her voice.”

 

To make matters worse, fuel was gushing out everywhere, and there was NO fire extinguisher or EPIRB on board. This meant they had no contact with the outside world. No possibility of calling for help, and there would be little chance of survival in such dense bushland in the event of a fire. 

 

“I couldn’t get out of the chopper, too afraid to move as I was sure I was impaled on a tree.

Knowing full well that if I undid my seatbelt, I would bleed out right there.”

 

“My mind was calm, but my body was in excruciating pain from being crushed to bits. The first big tree had come through the window, straight at me, and the impact had destroyed my internals, and my arm suffered severe hematomas and cuts. 

My mate yelled at me to evacuate due to the fuel, and I calmly told him I couldn’t due to being impaled on a tree.

He asked for a fire extinguisher, but the pilot said there wasn’t one.

I asked my mate to check my side before I risked moving, and he pulled up my shirt and said there’s nothing there - that’s when I realised my broken bones were slicing through me. “

 

“I undid my seatbelt and (as there was a huge risk of fire from the leaking fuel and busted up chopper) climbed out the broken windscreen.”

 

They could not contact the outside world due to the lack of essential communication devices like an EPIRB*, and the Automatic Crash Activated EPIRB failing, the only chance was a very basic sat sleeve device the pilot had which attaches to a phone app (as opposed to a properly secured Sat phone in a protective case), and this was also not functioning.

 

With no help or any possibility of help, and to escape the threat of fire they were forced to hike a torturous 90 mins through thick bush and extremely challenging terrain to safety. 

“My mate is a brilliant navigator, and luckily, my phone had the HEMA GPS app - thankfully, using this, he led us to safety.

I couldn’t straighten up due to broken ribs and could only shuffle my feet along as it felt like 1000 spears were tearing through my insides. It was excruciating, but I knew my job was to try and keep up - the last thing I wanted was to be the cause of my friends being burned to death because I was too slow.

So I bit down hard and kept moving.”

 

Nighttime comes pretty quick in the bush, and they were well aware of the dangers of being stuck overnight. Particularly with significant internal injuries and internal bleeding.

 

Thankfully they were spotted just before dark, and the process began to get medical attention.

This involved a substantial operation by CareFlight, which took 12 hrs and involved two separate helicopters and a fixed-wing ambulance before finally arriving at Royal Darwin Hospital just before 4am the following day.  

 

“Amazingly, both my friends were able to walk away without more severe injuries. Certainly not without damage but thankfully without completely broken bodies.“

 

Craig has been in the Spinal Unit at Royal Darwin Hospital for 3 wks. He is unable to be moved as his extensive injuries were deemed far too dangerous to risk transferring him anywhere at this stage. 

 

The hospital itself has not been easy. Craig has already undergone two spinal surgeries and is now dealing with a severe staph infection introduced in surgery. This has created an enormous cavity down his back, putting extra pressure on the spinal injuries. Seriously restricting any movement of the right arm and impeding his ability to ward off pneumonia due to the inability to complete essential breathing exercises. 

 

Those who know of Craig’s previous surgeries know he has exceptionally complex prostheses from knee to hip on both sides. The most dangerous complication for anyone with an implant is a staph infection - it attaches to the metal resulting in significant (& sometimes multiple) surgeries to replace the prosthetic and IV antibiotics are usually required for 6-12months. 

 

Craig had chosen to keep this extremely quiet to focus on the battle ahead and hopefully avoid the possibility of ending up in a wheelchair permanently.

 

Some have heard via mutual friends or worked out Craig was the ‘seriously injured’ passenger (NT News) and have generously offered various support.

This includes the need for a primary carer as Craig will be unable to travel for a while and will be required to stay up in Darwin, heavily restricted but unable to leave until medical clearance is given to fly.

Undoubtedly the associated psychological issues related to flying will surely be another obstacle to overcome.

 

Craig has very little ability to focus or concentrate and responding to numerous people is beyond him right now. 

He certainly thanks everyone who has reached out to him and truly appreciates all support offered and given, but is unable to respond to everyone individually at this time.

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While insurance should eventually cover any associated medical costs - these things take time - and sadly don’t cover the impact on a business for loss of revenue.

With the rehabilitation process for the spinal cord and brachial plexus trauma expected to take 3-6months minimum, we have decided to create a GoFundMe page for those looking to help in any way.

The focus is to minimise the financial impact throughout this incredibly challenging time by assisting with rent, mortgage, and related costs not covered by insurance.

Let alone the loss of income created due to the inability of Craig to train the team, motivate, coach, guide or contribute to the business in any way whilst he battles an extensive rehabilitation process.

The number one priority is to allow Craig the financial and mental space to focus on his recovery. Fingers crossed, with time and space, he can recover back to a level where he can once again contribute, in some way, to the hairdressing community.

An industry to which he has dedicated the last 29yrs of his life too, and would happily do another 29. ‍♀️