Tassie rallies for Thorpie

FRIENDS are digging deep to help out a young Tasmanian man who was seriously injured and lost his new wife in a tragic motor vehicle accident in the United States.

The Tasmanian-based parents of James Thorp, 35, have flown to Oregon to be by his side after the July 16 crash that took the life of Taylor Nieri. Mr Thorp was thrown from the van, but his new American bride died at the scene.

Mr Thorp was flown to PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Hospital in Eugene, Oregon.

A gofundme page set up by friends on Saturday to raise $10,000 towards care for Mr Thorp has already passed that mark and is heading for $20,000.

Friends from across the world have rushed to donate and share their thoughts.

Mr Thorp’s close friend Chris Jones said the accident was a tragedy. But he said Mr Thorp was “ridiculously fit” and should take rehabilitation in his stride. The emotional hurt might take longer to heal.

“He is an amazing character and a free spirit. It is now up to us to pull together and help him get through this,” Mr Jones said.

Mr Thorp’s family said he had had two operations to repair extensive breaks to both legs and the tendons in one hand. He also suffered a punctured lung, damage to his spleen and a broken pelvis.

“James’s future care plan is unknown. When able James will be repatriated to Australia and to face a long rehabilitation in a specialised facility, his family said.

“It is unknown when he will be able to work again. He will require extensive physio, hydro and occupational therapy into the future.”

Mr Thorp and Ms Nieri were married in April and were in the US working as whitewater rafting guides.

From his hospital bed yesterday, Mr Thorp said he was confident the love he felt for Taylor would continue to radiate through him and others she had left behind.

Family members said the couple shared a passion for nature and were both living the life they desired.

“Their aspirations were to return to Australia and run sea kayaking expeditions together in the Whitsunday Islands. Their future together was to be filled with love and adventure,” family members said.

Mr Thorp has worked around the world leading and instructing in whitewater kayaking, whitewater rafting and sea kayaking programs in the polar regions, Nepal, India, Mexico, South America, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and many locations in Australia, including Tasmania.

The family said Mr Thorp was an accomplished outdoor instructor and had competed for Australia in national and international whitewater kayaking.

“Taylor was a beautiful spirited person with a true sparkle in her eyes. She studied out- door education at La Trobe University in Bendigo.”

James and Nieri met when both were kayaking in the Whitsundays. They returned to Tasmania to spend time with family and friends before moving to Oregon.

“I have faith that the love I felt for Tay will continue to radiate through us all,” Mr Thorp said yesterday. You can support James’s rehab at gofundme.com/helpthorpie