Simon's Story
The Accident
When the truck collided with the minivan, it dragged the now crumpled vehicle 30 metres backwards along the highway.
Miraculously Simon and four colleagues survived however beloved colleague and friend, Davila Renee Koroi was killed.
Always physically fit after an international collegiate rugby career, Simon had been preparing his sprint car for the new speedway season, while training for the mountain run stage of the Coast to Coast adventure race.
"The firefighters and helicopter crew told me I was down to my last few mls of blood required to survive - I'd bled right out and it was just the shape I was in that saved me. I had five major surgeries that they basically jammed in pretty fast because my heart was taking it so well."
"While my story appears to be primarily a physical journey of resilience and determination, the greatest part was and still is, the mental journey of well-being."
On November 3, 2017 at 35-years-old, Simon Rieter was driving his workmates to Hanmer Springs for a social weekend.
Leaving Murchison on State Highway 7 after an early dinner break, Simon found himself confronted by an oncoming truck and trailer unit attempting to overtake a Campervan, ignoring oncoming traffic.
Little did Simon know at the time, the truck driver had been driving without the required rest breaks…
List of Injuries
Simon was flown to Christchurch Hospital and put into a coma for the first two days so they could work out where to start and spent a further five days in intensive care. It would be a further two weeks before he could see his children.
The list of Simon’s injuries isn’t for the faint of heart:
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Four broken Vertebrae (T5-9)
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Shattered Shoulder Blade
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Broken Collarbone
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Broken Pelvis
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Broken Radius, Humorous and Ulnar (Elbow)
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Broken Skull
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Shattered Jaw including Palate
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Superficially Critical Facial, Skull and Throat lacerations
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Left Ear torn off
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Skull scalped causing severe blood loss
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Broken eye socket, left eye popped out
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Femur smashed out the back of his pelvis
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Burst Lung
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Burst Bowel
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Five burst sections of Intestines
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Damaged Kidneys
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Bruising to the Heart, fluid surrounding (by-product)
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Burst Eardrums
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Multiple fractures from impact including Patella
The Lacerations to Simon’s face, neck and skull took two surgeons four hours to stitch back together.
This also required 80 staples in the back of his head, six plates inserted in his face, plates in his right elbow, hip and pelvis.
His teeth remained intact, although two people were required to hold his Palate together during surgery.
“While the fractures and lacerations were minor compared to the massive head trauma, I required five surgeons to put this humpty dumpty back together again.”
Simon’s team of Intensive Care Surgeons admired that he was a ‘tough one to kill’ and were excited by his case as it required so much work on multiple areas.
Therapists told Simon he would be couch-bound for the first year and to expect to recover with limited mobility and strength in two years.
Road to Physical Recovery
In utter disbelief of this prognosis, Simon knew the first step to recovery was getting off the painkillers.
After being released from hospital, Simon spent 100 days non-weight bearing mostly in a wheelchair. Within four months, Simon was able to walk largely unassisted.
His persistent attempts to further fast-track his progress did not always go down well with his therapists and carers who said he was doing too much.
By March, Simon was back working part-time eight months earlier than the physician prescribed.
When he hit a plateau with his therapy and gym training, he revisited a goal made during those first lonely nights in Christchurch Hospital after persistently being told he wouldn't get his strength and mobility back...
"A lot of things have been taken away and there's a lot of 'can'ts' but this is something I can do."
Mind Over Matter
At face value, Simon’s progression appears solely physical but really the physical gains were simply an output of his mental progress.
“I leaned into the much needed optimism I had gained and realised it was my brain I needed to train. I needed to build it up like a bone so it could heal and grow.”
Simon admits the mental path can be most difficult but it comes with the greatest returns.
"The mind is the centre of it all. We see people achieve extraordinary feet's everyday , and its not because they have huge biceps and a six pack. It’s their mind."
The Unforgotten Goal
In June, Simon enlisted personal trainer Lachlan McLellan to help fulfill his goal of competing in a body-building competition.
The usual preparation period for competition is up to 25 weeks. However with Lachlans coaching Simon was in peak shape in just 16 weeks - 10 months after his accident and well ahead of his Therapists earlier prognosis.
"The turnaround was so short, but you can't hold back a guy who's showing that kind of determination." Lachlan McLellan
In a bittersweet moment of triumph, he won the performance category in his first ever event.
Despite the sadness and frustration of the last 10 months, Simon felt the competition win was another small miracle that proved to himself what he could achieve with the right attitude and strong mental health.
“We all get knocked down, whether it’s mental or physical but we can heal. I learned that if the mind was good then you can overcome the rest.”
Life Now
The physical reminders of that November evening are still evident on Simon's body, from the 45-degree slant of his forehead lines to the 30cm scar on his stomach where his intestines were temporarily removed.
While he remains physically fit, Motorsport is now a spectator sport as is any form of long-distance running and other hobbies.
He upholds his yearly challenge of launching his growing daughter, Poppy higher into the sky and cherishes the small things like a well-made coffee.
Simon treats all his ailments and chronic pain as daily reminders of all the things he can still do, rather than the things he can't. He knows, things can always be (and have been) a lot worse.
As Simon found increased joy in the small things, he equally found a passion in advocating for mental well-being.
Simon now speaks to workplaces, leadership teams and community groups on the importance of selfish mental health.
He challenges his audiences to question whether they are really looking after their top two inches, how to break from the all too common human behaviour of catastrophisation and to create a life of joy, not one of doubt or worry.
