JULY 2019:

It only takes a moment for your life to change, and no one knows this better than Condobolin’s Zac Manwaring.
Just before dark on Saturday, 27 April Zac came off his motorbike and hit an old tree stump sticking out of the ground.
The stump went through his helmet, leaving him with a severe head injury. The gash was deep, and was filled with debris from the accident scene. It just missed his eye.
After quick work from his family and paramedics, he was quickly assessed and transported to Condobolin Airport, where a helicopter was waiting to take him to Westmead Children’s Hospital.
He was placed in an induced coma, where he stayed for over a week. It was touch and go, and the family was unsure of what the outcome would be.
“We knew he was a fighter, but we just didn’t know what was going to happen,” his brother Lachlan explained.
“He progressed really well, and he fought hard, but we didn’t know what the health outcomes for Zac would be.”
On 3 May, Zac was taken off life support and was able to breathe on his own again. At this point he was starting to respond to family and doctors. By the next day, Zac had shown enough improvement to be moved out of the Intensive Care Unit.
Zac began improving slowly, being able to take small steps with assistance on 6 May. By 7 May, Zac’s determination saw him walking short distances without help. By 8 May, Zac was attending gym for rehabilitation sessions.
On 10 May, Zac managed to venture outside the Hospital for the first time since his accident.
On 13 May, Zac underwent a second surgery to remove debris from behind his cheekbone. Doctors removed large chunks of wood and a part of his goggle lenses, which were embedded behind the bone.
The 17 May, was a great day for the Manwaring family, as Zac was discharged from Hospital. Zac surprised his doctors with his recovery and showed absolute commitment to doing everything necessary to get him back home to the farm.
Zac still has no memory of the accident. He can remember following one of his mates around the track but can’t recall anything after that.
He and his family will be forever thankful to the paramedics who looked after him.
They had the chance to meet up with Kim Little, one of the paramedics, who helped look after him in the initial stages after Zac’s serious motorbike accident in April, last Thursday.
Kim and LJ Butcher were the first paramedics on the scene after the accident. Zac was airlifted to Westmead Children’s Hospital, for treatment.
Paramedics say Zac did everything right and the incident was just a tragic accident.
“He was wearing all his safety gear. He followed all necessary precautions. If he hadn’t, the story could had a very different ending,” Kim stated.
“Farmers and farming families should all take similar precautions.
He did nothing wrong, it was just an accident.
“I am so happy I got to meet Zac. He is a lovely person and it is great to see him doing so well.”
Three months on, the long road to recovery continues. He is not allowed to ride his bike for at least six months, but that time frame may be extended, if Mum Deb has any say in the matter.
He is not back at school, but has visited his classmates, who were all eager to see him. He will return to Yanco Agricultural College next term.
Zac and his family understand how different things could have been, and will be forever grateful to all those who aided him in his recovery.
“It was the best day of our lives when he woke up. We went through a rollercoaster of emotions,” Dad Doug Manwaring said.
“We are just so happy to have our Zac back.”