The mother of a boy seriously injured in an e-bike incident says her son’s helmet saved his life – but the crash proves young riders need more than just the right gear.
Lauren Woodcroft has shared her family’s story to raise awareness about the risks e-bikes pose to young riders and the need for greater education, responsibility and caution on the roads, as a petition to support their family gathers momentum.
Her son Will, 14, and a vehicle collided at Palmwoods last month. He suffered bleeding on the brain and multiple fractures, was placed in an induced coma and airlifted to a Brisbane hospital, where he spent five days in an intensive care unit.
He has since started the slow recovery process and is re-learning how to walk. It’s hoped he can return to school in coming weeks.
Mrs Woodcroft detailed the harrowing events of June 19.
“Will was out on his e-bike in the afternoon,” she said.
“He was supposed to be home by 6pm. I called his phone and, by the fourth ring, another voice answered saying it was the Nambour police.
“I thought maybe he’d done something wrong but they told me that he had an accident on Jubilee Drive (300m from home).”
Mrs Woodcroft understands a vehicle turned from the road towards car parks in front of a soccer field and neither the driver or Will saw each other, and the teenager “T-boned the car”.
Want more free local news? Follow Sunshine Coast News on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, and sign up for our FREE daily news email.
He sustained a broken leg, along with eye and cheekbone injuries. The family was later told he had suffered four small brain bleeds.
Mrs Woodcroft said it could have been much worse.
“The lucky part of the story is that he was wearing long sleeves and gloves, long pants, good shoes and a full-faced motorbike helmet,” she said.
“This helmet saved his life.”
An off-duty nurse, bystanders and emergency services responded.
“I believe the ambulance was there very quickly, which helped save his life, but they had to put him into an induced coma to stop the shock to the body,” she said.
He was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital and airlifted to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.
He spent five days in intensive care before starting a lengthy recovery process.
“He had to learn to talk again and to eat, which he initially needed help with,” Mrs Woodcroft said.
“When he talked it was two- to three-word sentences, often scrambled trying to tell us things.
“He is now re-learning how to walk a little bit, but mostly getting his brain trained to continue to make all the right connections between his brain and his body so he can continue to get better and get back to normal life.”
Mrs Woodcroft said they hoped to return to Palmwoods, where they have lived for 18 years, soon. They also hoped Will could return to Burnside State High School in coming weeks.
“That will be a slow process of a couple of hours during a couple of days a week and we will see how he goes with that and continue to get him there more often as soon as his body is ready,” she said.
A petition has raised more than $16,000 for the Woodcroft family.
The unnamed organiser, from Palmwoods, said Lauren, her husband Pete and children Will and 12-year-old Lilly are well-known locals.
“(They) have been a cherished part of our community for many years,” it says.
“Whether it’s helping at local events, running fundraisers or simply being there when someone needs a hand, Lauren is always the first to show up for others.
“This family has given so much to our community. Let’s show them that in their darkest moment they’re not alone, we’re here with them.”
Mrs Woodcroft said she was “blown away” by the support.
“Everyone has just been super supportive … couldn’t have asked for a better community,” she said.
“Everyone has come together, and people are constantly checking in, seeing if Will is okay.”
She said she wanted to raise awareness.
“There’s such a taboo issue with e-bikes,” she said.
“I’m a kid from the ’80s and ’90s: we had different things like motorbikes and fast scooters.
“There are so many things in life that we need to come to terms with, that are going to be in our children’s lives.
“It’s the education around it. That would be the most important thing for me.”
Mrs Woodcroft urged older teenagers and young adults to lead by example.
“I’d love to remind these older kids to not encourage these younger kids to do silly things,” she said.
“(And) it’s more about hoping more of these kids understand they’re not indestructible.
“These bikes go fast.
“You’ve got to play by the rules: you have to follow the road rules and wear all your safety gear, that’s the most important thing.”
