Quadriplegic’s heartbreaking post after he suffers burns to his legs when he spilled his coffee

A wheelchair-bound man who suffered a spinal-cord injury after a horrific accident at the beach has shared a heartbreaking post revealing ‘not being able to walk’ isn’t the worst part of being quadriplegic.  

Scott Hoare was swimming at Coogee Beach, in Sydney’s east, in 2016 when he dove off a sandbank into what he expected would be deep water. 

But the 31-year-old had underestimated the ocean’s depth and hit his head on the sand bed, snapping his c5 vertebrae.

On Tuesday, Mr Hoare told his social media followers how he ended up back in hospital with serious burns to his legs after he spilled scolding hot coffee on his lap.

Not being able to feel the pain, he didn’t realise his mishap until 12 hours later.

‘I’ve said it plenty of times in the past, but if the worst part of a spinal-cord injury was not being able to walk, I’d probably be able to deal with that just fine,’ he said.

BEFORE AND AFTER: The before picture (left) shows gauze used as an initial treatment for Scott Hoare’s severe burns. A skin graft (right) was used to treat Mr Hoare’s burn

Mr Hoare, who has no feelings in his arms but has regained some use in them, explained he had gone on his normal morning coffee run before he put his insulated cup on his lap and pushed himself home on his wheelchair.  

‘The lid wasn’t on right and the coffee seeped out onto my leg, but I couldn’t feel it, so didn’t know for about 12 hours until I got into bed,’ he said.

‘After we found it we went to emergency and a few days after that, when the severity was obvious, I was admitted straight into the severe burns unit for a skin graft.’ 

He had exams a week later and was forced to study in hospital.  

Mr Hoare was active before he became quadriplegic and continues to inspire others by playing sports and hitting the gym regularly 

Mr Hoare was proposed to by his girlfriend Angie Minucos two days after he came off life support in 2016. He inspires others on his Facebook page Lift With Scott 

‘I knew I would be in there for a while so I got my study set up moved from home straight into my hospital room and tried to not miss a beat,’ he said.

He said his exams went well and he is continuing with strength training and rehabilitation. 

‘Up until this latest little fiasco, everything was going so well! The nerve transfers are really starting to kick off and I’m getting some finger pinch, and triceps are starting to happen on both sides, which is beyond refreshing,’ he said.

‘I’ve been smashing it in the gym with my strength work and am hoping to permanently do away with the hoist to get in and out of bed within the next few months… the goal is to just keep chipping away.’ 

Mr Hoare did not realise he was severely burnt until he and his wife Angie were going to sleep. They are pictured at their 2017 wedding one year after the freak accident at Coogee Beach

Mr Hoare said he is continuing with strength training and rehabilitation and ‘the goal is to just keep chipping away’ 

Mr Hoare initially posted updates for friends and family on his Facebook page and has grown to be an inspiration for his 3,500 followers. 

His then girlfriend Angie Minucos pulled Mr Hoare’s limp body from the ocean after he hit his head on the ocean bed in 2016.    

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. 

‘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.

Mr Hoare said being able to marry the ex-NFL cheerleader after the most difficult year of his life had been a ‘magical occasion’ in 2017.   

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.  

His and hers: Angie and Scott chow down on macarons at a physical rehabilitation facility