Mitchell Bamping thought that life couldn’t get any better – a great job, beautiful family and living in one of the most amazing places in the world. Unfortunately, in September 2013, that all changed.
Born in Byron Bay Hospital, Mitch grew up on the Far North Coast where he attended various local schools.
Mitch was a water baby from a young age and his passion for surfing and the ocean led him to study Marine Biology at Byron Bay High School where he also represented the state in swimming.
It is no surprise to anyone that throughout his years in Byron, Mitch attracted a massive group of friends, who he still considers family – his big heart and charismatic nature always drawing people in.
During his high school years, Mitch worked at The Beach Hotel bottle shop and local dive shop, as well as managing the Orgasmic Falafel shop in Bay Lane.
Following his graduation, Mitch moved over to Western Australia to work in the mines and finally got to live out his dream – spending as much time as possible in tropical Bali.
It was on one of his many holidays with the ‘boys’, living off mangos and chasing the surf, that Mitch fell in love – Catherine and Mitch tied the knot in 2007.
Working in the mines allowed Mitch to spend months at a time living over in Bali and it was during this time that Mitch and Catherine adopted their little girl Kaylah, followed soon after with their little boy, Bryce.
Mitch’s last trip back to see his family in Bali in September 2013 resulted in a severe accident where he broke his neck and sustained a Tetraplegia Level Spinal Cord injury. He was struck by a motor vehicle in Kuta Central and the severity of the injury has affected all movement in his legs and most movement in his arms.
The first his family in Australia knew of this was when they were awoken at 6am by the BMIC Hospital requesting $20,000 for emergency surgery. He was evacuated from Bali into Brisbane where he spent three weeks in Intensive Care, waiting for a bed to become available in Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra where he is now in the spinal ward receiving on-going treatment and rehabilitation.
He is currently reliant on a wheelchair for all mobility and requires assistance with his activities of daily living.
Unfortunately, because he is from NSW, Mitch is currently waiting to be transferred to the Royal North Shore hospital in Sydney – away from his family and support network here in Byron until he is discharged in June this year.
Spinal injuries are not completely government funded and all donations will go towards helping pay for personal carers and further medical bills, as well as hoists for the bedroom and bathroom, a specific bed, wheelchair, ramps and ongoing rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Any donations, what so ever would be greatly appreciated.
For more information email the Byron Boardriders: [email protected]
