Kickboxer Danial Williams has faced plenty of tough opponents in the ring, but he met his hardest adversary when he crashed his car into a towering Karri tree in the South West last year.
The 32 year old has no memory of the crash, although he suspects fatigue played a role. He woke from an induced coma in Royal Perth Hospital’s trauma ward 36 hours later and learned he had been flown from Manjimup Hospital to Perth in the RFDS Fortescue Heli-Med service EC-145 helicopter.
On the day of the crash, Danial’s partner Carla received a phone call with the shocking news that he was in a critical condition and being flown to Perth for treatment. With doctors unable to provide a full picture of the internal injuries he may have suffered all she could do was wave as she watched the RFDS helicopter fly overhead, knowing Danial was safely on his way to the care he needed.
“My seatbelt certainly saved my life,” Danial said, “but it also did some damage to my insides - my bowel was torn.”
He underwent a laparotomy, a major surgery to repair injuries to his bowel and intestines. He also suffered a serious concussion but remarkably, no broken bones. Weeks of intense pain followed yet doctors credited his fitness and strong core for helping his recovery.
Danial’s fighting career is on hold while he focuses on rebuilding his strength. These days, he’s enjoying working at a truffle farm in Shannon, east of Northcliffe.
“Just to be alive and to be able to do the normal things I was doing before, that’s what I am grateful for.
“For the RFDS to fly me from one hospital to another, and be in Perth within hours after the crash, it was just incredible.”
In October Danial took part in fundraiser Oceans to Outback, which allowed him to give back to the RFDS and keep his body active as he recovered.
“I love the big karri trees around here, I love hugging them, just not with my car!” he joked.
