Australian Olympic gold medalist Brooke Hanson suffered multiple spinal fractures during a serious surfing accident on a recent family holiday, but the 45-year-old is expected to make a full recovery following a nerve-wracking rescue in New South Wales.
Hanson told 7NEWS that her head hit the bottom of the ocean after she fell off her board.
“I took that leg rope off, laid on my back, and just yelled, ‘Help!’” she recalled.
Fortunately, Hanson’s husband, Jared Clarke, is a firefighter and surf lifesaver.
“I scooped Brooke up onto the board and then we had to just turn her around and I had to take the brunt of the force of waves,” Clarke told 7NEWS.
He helped navigate Hanson out of a tricky situation and onto shore, where a group of vacationers and off-duty professionals assembled to support the former world record holder. In her Instagram post, Hanson thanked “a trauma surgeon, lifeguard, firefighter, retired paramedic, two surf lifesavers, a carpenter, our fellow Currumbin vikings, and the managers & staff at the caravan park.”
Hanson was brought to Coffs Harbour Hospital, where she was informed that she’ll have the opportunity to make a full recovery in spite of her severe injuries. The diagnosis quelled her initial fears that she may never walk again.
“I’m feeling grateful to be walking out of [the] hospital knowing I have the opportunity to make a full recovery despite micro fractures in C3 & C4 & an anterior ligament tear at C3 & C4,” Hanson wrote on Instagram. “Now it’s time to rest & heal.”
Hanson made her international debut at just 16 years old as the youngest member of Australia’s squad for the 1994 Commonwealth Games. After failing to qualify for the Olympics in 1996 and 2000, she achieved a breakthrough at 26 years old, earning silver at the Athens 2004 Olympics in the 100 breast and gold in the 400 medley relay.
In 2007, Hanson was electrocuted in a spa, forcing her into retirement. She has three kids together with Clarke.
if thats the wave she took off on (doesnt look like it), she’s my hero.
What a relief to read that she’ll make a full recovery!
And what bad luck. Getting electrocuted, spinal fracture… that is one tough woman! Hope she feels better soon!
She and her husband also very sadly lost their son Jack, at 9 months old.
Her book “When silver is gold” is fantastic.
One very tough woman.
Ah man… that is so sad!
The level of resilience this woman must have! I’ll certainly read the book. Thanks for the recommendation.
Agreed the book is a fantastic read. Speedy recovery Brooke
puts things in perspective. I complain because I am not where I want to be in life financially and other minor things. I realize that I am very lucky.