Crash, depression survivor out to help others

A COAST apprentice mechanic has overcome life-threatening injuries and depression after a motorbike accident to campaign for others like him.

Alex Lees, 22, was riding home in 2015 when he lost control and went off a cliff.

He suffered a broken skull, brain injury, fractured pelvis, collapsed lung, partially torn aorta, bleeding into the abdomen, a broken leg, dislocated knee, massive bruising to the lungs and heart, and his right arm was paralysed for life.

“I spent 13 days in a coma and around eight months in hospital following that – 18 injuries, 12 surgeries,” he said.

Mr Lees has joined the call to raise money for mental health research through the Gold Coast Hospital Foundation, having struggled with depression after his accident.

“I didn’t get help until after I left hospital because I thought I was fine,” he said. “I also felt like I had to pretend I was fine because I had Mum there ...

“She was upset so I couldn’t just sit there and be upset because it makes it worse.

“I started having bouts anger and sadness.”

Mr Lees has been named the face of the foundation’s Tax Appeal, with two projects seeking to decrease the impact of PTSD and depression for traumatically injured patients. of