Johnny, 32, was newly engaged to the love of his life. He was surfing his last wave before the party when tragedy struck and changed his life forever
And in a cruel twist, it occurred just 24 hours before he and his fiancée were due to fly home to New Zealand for their long-awaited engagement party.
In 2022, Jonathan 'Johnny' Konings, then 29, moved from Hamilton, New Zealand, to the coastal town of Kirra in Queensland, with his partner of seven years, Charlie.
The couple were chasing their lifelong dreams of sun, surf and and easy-going lifestyle.
Now, at the age of 32, Johnny is facing the rest of his life in a wheelchair following a freak wipeout at Duranbah beach (known locally as D-bar) on June 18 last year.
The accident has not only robbed the once-active builder of the use of his legs, but plunged the couple into a nightmare of financial strain, uncertainty and heartbreak.
The morning started like any other with 'avo on toast with the missus', then on to meet a client at his first job of the day, Johnny told FEMAIL.
But when the client called to push back their meeting, Johnny - a keen surfer since the age of 16 - saw a golden window to sneak in a quick solo surf session.
Conditions were ideal, with the waves pumping. 'It was one of those days where you don't have to sit there and study it too long,' he said of the surf. 'It was looking pretty fun.'
But on his very first wave, disaster struck.
Johnny's landing went wrong, and he was thrown violently into the ocean floor. He remembers the sickening 'clunk' as his body hit the sandbar - and then the terrifying realisation that he could no longer feel his legs.
'It took a few moments for me to resurface,' he would later recall.
'I was pretty winded, so I was concentrating on my breath, and then a few moments later, I realised that I couldn't feel anything or move my legs.'
A fellow surfer rushed to his aid, stabilising him between two surfboards in the water while sprinting around to the next beach to get help, as there were no lifeguards on duty that day.
It took 45 excruciating minutes before a lifeguard arrived by jet ski to help get Johnny to the safety of the beach.
Miraculously, the pounding waves calmed just long enough for the rescue to unfold.
Johnny, by then hypothermic and struggling to breathe with three broken ribs and a punctured lung, was airlifted to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital - the only facility in Queensland equipped with a spinal rehabilitation ward.
But before he was flown out, only one thought ran through his mind.
'All I could think was Charlie, as we were meant to fly to New Zealand the next morning for our engagement party.'
Scans revealed Johnny had suffered a burst fracture at his T10 vertebra and a dislocation at T11. The damage to his spinal cord was classified as ASIA A, which is the most severe form of paralysis.
Surgeons immediately operated, fusing rods and screws from his T8 to L2 to stabilise his shattered spine. The diagnosis was complete paraplegia.
He was told he would never walk again, however the couple remain hopeful.
All the while, Charlie was waiting for him, cancelling their travel and engagement party plans from the waiting room of the hospital.
'Those were some of the darkest days of my life, and our life, to be honest,' Johnny revealed.
'There is so much grief that comes with not being able to use your legs. It's like a whole version of yourself that dies.'
After surgery, he was transferred to the orthopaedics ward, where he remained for nearly two months while awaiting a spot in the overburdened spinal rehab unit.
'It was pretty grim place to be,' he said. 'It's an old ward, and you're exposed to a lot more, people in similar or worse off conditions than you.'
Johnny's self-run building business was his pride and joy, but his injuries have rendered him unable to work, cutting off his income overnight.
And while most spinal cord injury survivors in Australia are eligible to receive assistance through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Johnny and Charlie are stuck in a cruel bureaucratic no-man's land.
They've lived in Australia for three years, which is not long enough for citizenship or access to the NDIS. Yet they've been gone from New Zealand for too long to qualify for government support there either.
The couple are now trying to privately fund Johnny's medical needs, specialist therapy, equipment, and daily care - all while paying for a non-accessible rental at premium prices because it was the only option available.
When Johnny was discharged, hospital staff pooled money to provide him with a basic wheelchair. But the support ended there.
Charlie has now become his full-time carer, his chauffeur, his nurse, and his advocate, all while trying to hold down some paid work to keep them afloat.
Shockingly, just the catheters alone cost over $20,000 per year, and that doesn't include specialised beds, equipment, wheelchairs, rehab, and other endless bills for Johnny.
When it comes to car modifications, he's also not eligible for that funding either, meaning he's solely reliant on Charlie to get him to important appointments.
'Being able to get into a car that has hand controls would free up a lot of time for Charlie and allow her to get back to her own life,' he said.
'It's pretty challenging being your partner's carer full time, so that would enable her to have more time for herself, which she so much deserves.'
Despite everything they've lost, mobility, freedom, financial stability, what hurts the most is the fear of losing their dream of a family.
Due to the nature of his injuries, Johnny and Charlie have been advised to begin IVF as soon as possible, which is another massive financial burden.
From already having so much taken from them, it's heartbreaking extra dagger to think children might be taken away too.
Both Johnny and Charlie's hope is that with determination and community support, they can start to rebuild their lives with the dignity and independence they so desperately deserve.
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Spectator
4 days ago
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I've been bitten by the ancestry bug
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The National
30-07-2025
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Orkney farmer leaves £470,000 to farming charity in will
Charles (Charlie) Gorn, who passed away in November 2023 at the age of 82, bequeathed £470,000 from his estate to the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI), the charity that supports people in Scotland's farming and crofting sectors. Gorn, who farmed at Weddell near Holm, left around half of his estate to the RSABI, with the remainder going to various cancer support charities. READ MORE: Scottish soft fruit farms report impressive yield increases for 2025 Known locally for his quiet generosity and lifelong dedication to farming, Gorn's gift is one of the largest donations in the RSABI's history. Carol McLaren, chief executive of the charity, said: 'It was humbling to hear how Charlie came to support RSABI in such an extraordinary way.' 'His kindness will allow us to help many in the farming community during difficult times.' 'We are extremely grateful to Charlie for recognising the value of the work we do and choosing to kindly gift a significant part of his lifetime savings to support the charity.' Charlie Gorn in his younger years (Image: Muckle Media) Born and raised in Holm, Gorn left Orkney as a young man to work as a stockman on Sir Torquil Munro's Perthshire estate. There, he developed a lasting passion for Aberdeen-Angus cattle, working with the famed Lindertis herd and earning great respect in the agricultural community. READ MORE: Former rugby player to take on world-record swim with Scottish Canals Encouraged early on to plan for the future, he began saving and investing, a decision that would ultimately allow him to build a successful farming life. After a period working in Aberdeenshire in the plant and machinery sector, Gorn returned to [[Orkney]] in the 1970s. He began farming at Weddell and eventually purchased the land, expanding his enterprise over the years. He remained devoted to Aberdeen-Angus cattle and even travelled to Australia to visit breeders and share knowledge. A regular on the show circuit, Gorn won numerous trophies, many of which he later donated to the local agricultural society.
