A man left paralysed after a shocking accident at one of the country’s most popular beaches has married his fiancee in a heartwarming ceremony exactly one year on.
Scott Hoare was swimming at Coogee Beach, in Sydney’s east, on December 2, 2017 when he dove off a sandbank and into what he expected would be deeper water.
But the 29-year-old had underestimated the ocean’s depth and in a freak accident hit his head on the sand bed, snapping his c5 vertebrae in the process.
Remaining by his side while he was on life support in Prince of Wales Hospital, just two days after Mr Hoare woke up his girlfriend Angie Minucos proposed.
And just one year on from the accident that changed their lives, the pair said ‘I do’ in a heartwarming ceremony that Mr Hoare admitted seemed impossible when doctors told him he would be a quadriplegic for life.
Scott Hoare (left) has married his fiancee Angie Minucos (right) exactly one year after hitting his head and being left paralysed while swimming at Coogee Beach, in Sydney’s east
Immediately after hitting his head on the ocean bed Mr Hoare’s body went limp, with his girlfriend Ms Minucos desperately having to pull him from the waves.
After being told of his heartbreaking prognosis, he created a blog to keep family and friends up to date with his condition and rehabilitation.
Sharing photos from his wedding recently, Mr Hoare said being able to marry the ex-NFL cheerleader after the most difficult year of his life had been a ‘magical occasion’.
‘Angie proposed to me two days after coming off life support. At this stage, the firm prognosis was that I’d never move anything below my neck again,’ Mr Hoare wrote.
‘With this knowledge Angie decided to throw away any chance of a ‘normal’ life, in favour of a life filled with uncertainty, challenge, huge reward, love, loyalty and courage.
‘Knowing that this beautiful, strong woman had my back from the first second and promising it until the last, was one of the major driving factors in my aggressive and never give up attitude.’
In the year since his accident Mr Hoare has battled regular sickness, been unable to speak at times and lost more than 20 kilograms – dropping from 96kgs to 75kgs.
Having been by his side while on life support in the Prince of Wales Hospital, it was just two days after Mr Hoare (left) woke up that his girlfriend Ms Minucos (right) proposed
Mr Hoare openly admitted he initially questioned whether Ms Minucos would ‘stick around’ after the accident, saying he wouldn’t have blamed her if she didn’t
‘At one stage I was getting so upset because it took me 15 minutes just to open my laptop and now it takes me 15 seconds,’ he told Yahoo7.
Mr Hoare openly admitted he initially questioned whether Ms Minucos would ‘stick around’ after the accident, saying he wouldn’t have blamed her if she didn’t.
The couple, who met in Canada while travelling, had been friends for less than a year when they moved back to Australia together.
But through it all he said his fiancee had been his strength, giving him the energy to ‘keep him going’ and improving ahead of their special day.
Tying the knot at the Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club, the couple not only had family and friends in attendance but also streamed it live to those around the world.
Mr Hoare returned to Coogee Beach, the scene of his horror accident, in the year following
Mr Hoare said the accident had in fact solidified their love and given them a real perspective on life
In his blog post Mr Hoare said the accident had in fact solidified their love and given them a real perspective on life.
‘This past year has done more to solidify our love and commitment to each other,’ Mr Hoare wrote.
‘While giving us the time to spend every day with each other and the perspective to cherish every second of it… It was a truly amazing day filled with love and laughter.’
‘The sad reality is that this could happen to anyone of us at any time, life can change in an instant.
‘Though this could be perceived as something to be constantly feared, it should be nothing other than celebrated and embraced.’
‘This past year has done more to solidify our love and commitment to each other,’ Mr Hoare said