Thanks for big hearts

By DAVID HALL

Injured Kiama business-man Darren Longbottom and his wife Aimee have thanked the local community for its support during the early stages of the surfer’s rehabilitation from a broken neck.

Darren was injured while surfing in the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia in May and spent several weeks in hospital in Singapore before being transferred to Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital.

He has movement in his upper torso, arms and hands, although he still hasn’t regained feeling in his fingers.

While the long-term prognosis is not clear, Darren’s attitude is very positive and much of this has come from the superb support that he, Aimee and their 16-month-old daughter Bowie have received.

A fundraising event held at Shellharbour Workers’ Club three weeks ago raised more than $160,000 towards long-term rehabilitation costs.

“The support and love we received from the community is unreal and completely blew us away,” Aimee said.

Darren said his rehabilitation was a day-by-day proposition and it could be up to two years before things were clearer.

“But the one thing you realise being here (in the RNS spinal unit) is that there are a lot of people who are a whole lot worse off than me.”