Esperance's Jaimen Hudson hopes horrifying ordeal will highlight need for better beach acces

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Australia is world-famous for its beaches, but only about 1 per cent are accessible to those who live with disabilities. Jaimen Hudson, who recently broke his neck trying to visit his local beach, says that needs to change.

Transcript

00:00 Jamin Hudson's drone footage has brought international recognition to Western Australia's South Coast.

00:07 It's actually a bit greener than normal.

00:09 After breaking his neck in a motorbike accident 16 years ago, accessing the beaches he's helped to make famous has been almost impossible.

00:17 Earlier this year he was using his wheelchair to access a beach track, but he hit a boggy patch and flipped.

00:24 And it's jammed my head into the ground.

00:27 He had no idea his neck was broken until it was confirmed by a CT scan in hospital that night.

00:33 And I said to Jess, I just can't believe I've done this to myself again.

00:37 Like, you know, breaking your neck once is like getting struck by lightning and then to do it twice is out of this world.

00:44 Heading in for spinal surgery was terrifying.

00:47 I've lost so much mobility from my first accident, like, because I don't think I could have coped if I had have gone backwards.

00:53 Sunday, come here sweetie.

00:54 But there was huge relief post-surgery.

00:57 I just started crying and I said I can still move my arms.

01:00 Sorry.

01:02 But you can imagine it was very scary, you know, the thought of losing my independence.

01:08 And the nurse and I just embraced each other and hugged.

01:13 I can't even describe the agony we were all in, just waiting and looking at the clock.

01:19 When they saw me wheel out of the elevator and I waved at them, I think they were all very relieved to see that I could still move my arms.

01:25 So it was a nice moment.

01:27 In a country famous for beaches, Esperance has some of the best.

01:31 But here at Twilight Beach, there's no way for wheelchair users to get on the sand.

01:36 It's a similar story throughout the country.

01:39 Only about 160 of Australia's 12,000-odd beaches have some sort of access.

01:45 And many of those with access still fall short.

01:49 Kumbana Beach near Bunbury is classified as accessible.

01:53 But Stuart Schonell would rather use a boat ramp.

01:56 If I was wearing my bathers, I'd just go straight down until I was almost floating.

02:01 Get off the chair, I'd throw it onto the side here, and then I'd swim around the corner and try and find a little bit of beach.

02:08 He hopes planned changes to WA's Disability Services Act will see accessibility taken more seriously.

02:15 Keep going, sweetie.

02:16 Jamin Hudson and his family agree.

02:18 Every town that has a great beach should have an accessible beach.

02:23 Their Esperance Shire says it's planning to build a ramp to Twilight Beach before next summer.

02:28 [waves crashing]

02:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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