Champion Mullumbimby tree-climber Jamie Boston has been hospitalised in Singapore after being hit by a car on his way to a competition.
Before the accident Mr Boston was considered one of the rising stars of the Aboricultural Association. He was in Singapore to compete in the Asia Pacific Tree Climbing Championships (APTCC) at the end of last month when the freak accident occurred.
Jamie has a fractured spine and will be in a full body cast for some time before he can start the long road to recovery.
President of the Queensland Arboricultural, Kurt Brown, said ‘Jamie was part of the Australian Team in the APTCC and had finished competing where he had placed in the top 10.
‘Jamie was rushing to support his team mates in the final and was struck by a car , Jamie was the first to piont out that it was not the driver’s fault just a misjudgment on his behalf,’ Mr Brown said.
‘Jamie is now stuck in a Singapore hospital with bills exceeding $20,000 and climbing. The medical care is one of the world’s best but requires up-front payments,’ he added.
The association has now put together a Fundrazr campaign to help with Jamie’s hospital and repatriation expenses, which has so far raised around $4,500. But that’s only about 10 per cent of the target the group was hoping for.
Echonetdaily understands that Jamie’s parents have already travelled to Singapore to be with their son and that he is expected to be flown home in coming days.