A former ironwoman has spoken about the freak accident which left her a paraplegic 12 months ago.
Less than a year after both her bicycle tyres popped during training, Lauren Parker will be representing Australia in the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games.
The 29-year-old was training for Ironman Australia in April 2017 when both the tyres burst and threw her off the bike, into a guard rail at 45km/h.
Former Ironwoman athlete Lauren Parker (pictured) has spoken about the freak accident which left her a paraplegic less than 12 months ago
Less than a year after both her bicycle tyres popped during training, Ms Parker (pictured) will be representing Australia in the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games
The 29-year-old was training for Ironman Australia in April 2017 when both the tyres burst and threw her off the bike, into a guard rail at 45km/h (pictured right training)
‘In a split second my life changed from being an active, healthy and fit professional athlete to becoming a paraplegic,’ she wrote online
‘In a split second my life changed from being an active, healthy and fit professional athlete to becoming a paraplegic,’ she wrote online.
Ms Parker, who came second in 2015 Ironman World Championships on Hawaii, spent six months in hospital and rehab before she discharged herself against medical advise and began training for the para-triathlon race.
‘That night my surgeon came to me and said I have zero to one per cent chance of ever walking again,’ the athlete told 60 Minutes.
‘I said, “f*** off”.’
Less than a year after that moment, the young athlete has competed in two full para-triathlon races and is ready to represent the country this week.
‘I’m only happy when I’m training and racing,’ she said.
The freak accident on the Pacific Highway left Ms Parker with broken ribs, a punctured lung, broken scapula, broken pelvis and a broken back.
Ms Parker, who came second in 2015 Ironman World Championships on Hawaii, spent six months in hospital and rehab before she discharged herself against medical advise
The freak accident on the Pacific Highway left Ms Parker with broken ribs, a punctured lung, broken scapula, broken pelvis and a broken back
Less than a year after that moment, the young athlete has competed in two full para-triathlon races and is ready to represent the country this week
‘I couldn’t breath, I thought I was dying. I couldn’t breathe because I had a punctured lung … I was in that much pain,’ she previously The Herald.
Ms Parker said in that moment, her ‘hopes and dreams of becoming a world champion were shattered’.
‘I didn’t think I was going to get back into triathlon, let alone racing, and this early, and qualify for the Comm Games,’ she told Channel 9.
‘People don’t understand what spinal cord injuries actually do to a person.’
The inspiring athlete will be competing at the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games next Saturday at the Gold Coast, Queensland.
The inspiring athlete (pictured in 2013) will be competing at the Commonwealth Games next Saturday at the Gold Coast, Queensland