Esperance's Jaimen Hudson hopes horrifying ordeal will highlight need for better beach acces
Australia is world-famous for its beaches, but only about 1 per cent are accessible to those who live with disabilities. Jaimen Hudson, who recently broke his neck trying to visit his local beach, says that needs to change.
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00:00 Jamin Hudson's drone footage has brought international recognition to Western Australia's South Coast.
00:07 It's actually a bit greener than normal.
00:09 After breaking his neck in a motorbike accident 16 years ago, accessing the beaches he's helped to make famous has been almost impossible.
00:17 Earlier this year he was using his wheelchair to access a beach track, but he hit a boggy patch and flipped.
00:24 And it's jammed my head into the ground.
00:27 He had no idea his neck was broken until it was confirmed by a CT scan in hospital that night.
00:33 And I said to Jess, I just can't believe I've done this to myself again.
00:37 Like, you know, breaking your neck once is like getting struck by lightning and then to do it twice is out of this world.
00:44 Heading in for spinal surgery was terrifying.
00:47 I've lost so much mobility from my first accident, like, because I don't think I could have coped if I had have gone backwards.
00:53 Sunday, come here sweetie.
00:54 But there was huge relief post-surgery.
00:57 I just started crying and I said I can still move my arms.
01:00 Sorry.
01:02 But you can imagine it was very scary, you know, the thought of losing my independence.
01:08 And the nurse and I just embraced each other and hugged.
01:13 I can't even describe the agony we were all in, just waiting and looking at the clock.
01:19 When they saw me wheel out of the elevator and I waved at them, I think they were all very relieved to see that I could still move my arms.
01:25 So it was a nice moment.
01:27 In a country famous for beaches, Esperance has some of the best.
01:31 But here at Twilight Beach, there's no way for wheelchair users to get on the sand.
01:36 It's a similar story throughout the country.
01:39 Only about 160 of Australia's 12,000-odd beaches have some sort of access.
01:45 And many of those with access still fall short.
01:49 Kumbana Beach near Bunbury is classified as accessible.
01:53 But Stuart Schonell would rather use a boat ramp.
01:56 If I was wearing my bathers, I'd just go straight down until I was almost floating.
02:01 Get off the chair, I'd throw it onto the side here, and then I'd swim around the corner and try and find a little bit of beach.
02:08 He hopes planned changes to WA's Disability Services Act will see accessibility taken more seriously.
02:15 Keep going, sweetie.
02:16 Jamin Hudson and his family agree.
02:18 Every town that has a great beach should have an accessible beach.
02:23 Their Esperance Shire says it's planning to build a ramp to Twilight Beach before next summer.
02:28 [waves crashing]
02:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]