FRANK'S STORY
Before his accident, Frank was an apprentice boilermaker enjoying life’s simple routines. He worked hard, spent time at the gym, played games with friends, and valued time with family. Looking back, he describes himself as independent, optimistic and always finding something to look forward to.
“I always had something to look forward to every single day, and I never let anything hold me down.”
That changed on 15 December 2023.
Driving to Perth in the early morning, Frank encountered a kangaroo standing in the middle of the road. With a truck approaching from the opposite direction, he made a split-second decision to drive around it. His vehicle lost traction, struck a tree and rolled onto its roof.
Not far behind was his father, who arrived at the crash scene moments later.
Frank was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital with a traumatic brain injury, facial nerve damage and spinal fractures. He spent 21 days in ICU, including nine days in a medically induced coma. Doctors warned his family that his chances of survival were low and that, if he survived, he would likely spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
What followed was a long and challenging recovery.
When Frank regained consciousness, rehabilitation became his new routine. Occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy filled his days as he worked to rebuild his strength and independence. His parents were a constant source of support, helping him attend appointments and reminding him that progress was possible.
The adjustment was difficult. “It was hard to realise how much I changed in such a short period of time. I kind of lost hope that I could return to my normal status.”
Physically, he had lost 20kg and had to relearn skills many people take for granted. Walking, coordination and retraining the right side of his face all required persistence and effort. Cognitively, he faced challenges with memory, information processing and thinking, but therapy helped him steadily regain confidence and capability.
There were no shortcuts, only consistency, determination and a willingness to keep showing up each day.
Support played a vital role in his recovery. Frank credits his parents as the most influential people in his journey. “They gave me the courage that I could always strive for more every single day.”
Through the Catastrophic Injury Support Scheme, Frank was able to access the rehabilitation and therapy he needed at a critical time. “I was given the chance to have the rehab I needed… which gave me a fighting chance to return to my original job.”
Within 11 months, he achieved exactly that and returned to work.
Today, much of Frank's life looks similar to the life he enjoyed before the accident. He is back at work, trains at the gym and maintains a structured routine that helps him manage his energy and stay focused.
But the experience changed his perspective. “It's made me wiser. It's made me shoot for bigger goals.” Where he once focused heavily on work, he now places greater value on spending time with family and friends and making the most of life's experiences.
“Life is too short to always be chasing money, and not to be chasing quality time.” Frank is also realistic about recovery. “Some days there might be signs of improvement and some not. Recovery is slow, not fast.”
For people early in their recovery journey, his message is simple: progress may feel small, but every step forward matters. After all, he knows how far he has come. “I was given a 5% chance to live. And they said I would be in a wheelchair for life.”
Today, his life tells a very different story.
“If you are moving an inch closer to your end goal every day, or maybe every week, you are still an inch closer than before, aren't you?”
His message to others is simple: Recovery takes time. Keep showing up. Accept support when it's offered.
You can access each story here:
Page Last Updated 31 Aug 2026