Denny Cavanaugh says the theft has stripped her of her freedom and independence.
Denny Cavanaugh says the theft has stripped her of her freedom and independence.
An Auckland woman who has been paraplegic for more than 30 years has been left “upset and distressed” after her custom-made wheelchair was stolen at her local beach.
Denny Cavanaugh, 71, says her Triride – an electric-powered attachment that essentially turns a manual wheelchair into a mobility scooter – wastaken from Red Beach near Whangaparāoa on Saturday morning.
Cavanaugh is able to walk short distances with crutches and enjoys going for short walks at the nearby beach – her “happy place”.
But after her regular walk on Saturday morning, she was “stunned” to discover that her Triride, which she parked at her usual spot at the top of the boat ramp, was gone.
“I live nearby and I ride the Triride down to the beach because I can only walk a short distance with crutches,” she told the Herald.
“I walk along the beach for half an hour or something like that. And I always park the Triride in exactly the same place, all the locals kind of know me. When I walked back up the ramp, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The Triride was gone.
“Fortunately I had my phone with me and I was able to call my husband to come and get me because I was stranded.”
Cavanaugh says her Triride, which is multi-terrain and custom-made to her specifications, “keeps me young” and allows her to be active and independent.
Denny Cavanaugh has been paraplegic for more than 30 years and credits her Triride with helping her live a full life.
“I’m 71. It makes me feel really old when I say it because I feel much younger than that because I’m just so able with the Triride.
“I can be independent and have a wonderful sense of freedom when I am driving it. It gets me onto a beach, a walking track, steep hills and I can run the dog. It can go as fast as 25 to 30 km/h so it gives me a way of going out with the grandchildren and living a full life.”
Since her Triride was stolen, Cavanaugh says she has had her freedom and independence taken away from her.
“I’m just really, really distressed that I’ve lost my freedom … I’m elderly but I’m able to participate in the community and get around. I’m just really upset and distressed.
“As I’ve aged, I’ve wrecked my shoulders pushing a manual wheelchair, and I can’t use one outside anymore.
“I’m not angry with who has done it … if they were to just leave it somewhere in the open and let me have it back that would be great. No questions asked.
