Perth surfer's plea to find local hero who ‘saved' her legs
Dominique Ploegmakers headed to Trigg Beach on August 7 for a morning surf with her partner Joel and sister-in-law, Eron. While Joel paddled out the back, Ms Ploegmakers stayed in the shallows to surf with Eron close to the Trigg SLSC.
Despite thinking she was safe in the shallows, a huge wave approached the shore, leaving Ms Ploegmakers in the 'danger zone.'
She tried to get under the wave by flipping the board upside down and holding onto the rails while underwater, but the power of the wave tumbled her in the whitewash.
'I tried to do a turtle roll because I didn't want to ditch my board in case I hurt somebody, but just misjudged the size and power of the wave quite badly and ended up getting dumped, my board hit me on the head,' Ms Ploegmakers told PerthNow. Dominique Ploegmakers headed to Trigg Beach on August 7 for a morning surf when the accident occurred. Credit: Instagram
'When I finally surfaced I was so so dizzy and disoriented.'
Ms Ploegmakers was immediately assisted by a surfer who saw the wipe out occur and was straight on hand to help.
'This other surfer was there straight away asking if I was alright and helped carry my board and steady me with Eron under my other arm. He and Eron helped me down on the beach where I laid down and got some help from the lifeguards and then the ambo's took me to the hospital from there,' Ms Ploegmakers said. Ms Ploegmakers CT scan shows the full extent of the spinal damage: pre-surgery on the right and post-surgery on the left. Credit: Facebook
Ms Ploegmakers had to undergo major surgery to realign her spine and is waiting for a second surgery on August 14 which will involve titanium plating around her C5-T1.
Miraculously, doctors have assured Ms Ploegmakers that she doesn't have any neurological defects so far, which is partly due to the fact that she had two people to help her out of the water and keep her as still as possible.
Ms Ploegmakers has shared details of the accident on Facebook, in an attempt to find the kind local who helped her get to shore.
'He was probably mid 30's, moustache, short board I think,' Ms Ploegmakers wrote in the caption.
'This guy potentially saved my arms and legs!! Just wanted to say I'm so thankful.'
The post has more than 400 reactions and many were quick to comment on how lucky the young Aussie was.
'Wow...so lucky you still have mobility after that ...I had a similar injury 20 years ago and was told I'd never surf again,' one person said.
'What a save that was!!! So glad this awesome guy was out there to help you. I've just gone through spinal surgery myself, so props to you,' another person commented.
Ms Ploegmakers is keen to find the kind man who helped her and has urged anyone who knows who this might be to make contact with her, or alternatively with PerthNow.
'I'm really looking forward to getting back on my feet, hopefully we find this guy!' she told PerthNow.
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