By Luke Voogt
Geelong has thrown its support behind Leopold man Billy Bubb, who will likely never walk again following a motorcycle accident in South Australia.
His mum Tracey Bubb was brought to tears by the “amazing” generosity of Geelong locals, who donated more than $35,000 through a GoFundMe campaign in just a few days.
Tracey and husband Steve have been at the bedside of their now unconscious son at Royal Adelaide Hospital whenever COVID-19 visitation restrictions allow.
“We knew he was a popular boy but we didn’t know he was this popular,” she said, bursting into tears.
“We read out all of his Facebook messages that his friends send him and all the messages [from the GoFundMe page].
“Please keep sending the messages of love and support because I’m reading them all out to him.”
Billy’s sister Amy drove to Adelaide with Tracey as soon as they heard about the accident. While there Amy set up the fundraising page.
“We’re pretty shocked at how much it has already raised,” Tracey said.
“As a family we don’t know how to thank the community enough except to say thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.”
She said her 22-year-old son had gone out of his way to help others prior to the accident.
“If he had a mate in trouble whose car had broken down, or was drunk and couldn’t get home, or had broken up with a girlfriend – Billy was there.
“It wouldn’t matter if he was having tea, asleep or what time of day it was – Billy would stop he was doing.”
Billy was riding on the dunes at Beachport about midday on New Year’s Eve when he fell off his motorbike.
A couple with a 4WD helped transport paramedics to Billy before an ambulance helicopter flew him to Royal Adelaide Hospital, Tracey said.
Billy suffered two breaks to his lower back, a twice-severed spinal cord, lung damage and bruising to the brain in the accident, which South Australian police are now investigating.
“He will never walk again,” Tracey said.
“We just need his brain to be OK.”
Billy is currently on a ventilator but is “doing some of the breathing himself” and occasionally twitches his arms, particularly his left arm, according to Tracey.
On Sunday doctors tried to reduce his sedation, but increased it again after he became agitated and his heart rate increased rapidly that night.
The family are waiting for when doctors can safely wake him to determine if he has any brain damage.
“Billy just needs a bit longer to rest, he’s been through a traumatic head injury,” Tracey said.
“There’s no set time for when things should happen with brain injuries.”
They will have to wait at least a couple of weeks before Billy can be transferred to the Austin Hospital in Melbourne.
Amy has since returned to care for younger sister Chloe, who has a congenital heart condition, and run Ormond Road Fish and Chips, which the family took over six months ago.
“Our daughter Amy has just blown us away with her maturity,” Tracey said.
“She’s not only [worrying] about her brother, she’s taking on the family business and looking after her sister.”
Amy said she set up the fundraiser to help her parents with accommodation and travel costs.
“It’s very rare for my family to ask for help, as we prefer toughing it out and doing it ourselves, but this time we do need help,” Amy said.
“I knew how upset mum was and how stressed out she was about bills. I wanted them to be able to see Billy without worrying about it.
“Because it’s raised so much we’re aiming for bigger and better things like any medical bills that might come up or renovations to make it safe for him to come home.
“It’s just amazing how many people have reached out in different ways.
“I’ve had tradies say that when it comes to house-renovating time, they’re happy to help.”
Billy had been building a house, currently at lock-up stage, which he had meant to move into in a couple of months, Amy said.
But following the accident he will likely have to remain with their parents for an extended period time, she explained.
“At the moment we’re just waiting for him to wake up.”
Amy described her brother as a hardworking and fun-loving excavator driver who loves his job and having a beer or camping with friends.
“He loves to have a laugh with family and friends and get a reaction out of everyone,” she said.
Already Amy is promoting a safety message after what happened to her brother, who she said was “wearing the right gear” at the time of the accident.
She encouraged motorcyclists to wear protective equipment.
“If Billy wasn’t it would be a completely different story and we probably wouldn’t have him with us,” she said.
To donate visit gofundme.com/f/5ftx8-for-billy
