Over $22k raised for Kiwi injured in Canada

Ian Simpson from Tekapo is recovering in a hospital intensive care unit in Calgary, Alberta, from major surgery. Photo / Facebook

Owners and staff of a Canadian gym where a young New Zealander broke his neck on a trampoline are thrilled an appeal has already exceeded a target of $20,000.

The plight of 24-year-old Ian Simpson, a specialised welder and ski instructor from Canterbury's Mackenzie Country, had by late this afternoon drawn pledges of $22,255 from 163 well-wishers.

That has surpassed a 90-day target of $20,000 set at the weekend, just after Mr Simpson underwent major surgery for damage to his upper spinal cord between the C5 and C6 cervical nerves at the Gymtastics gym in southern Calgary, Alberta.

Co-owner Darlene Fedyna told the Herald everyone at the gym was "devastated" by what she said was the first major injury to have occurred there.

"We've been in business for 25 years with thousands of children, youth and adults coming in here, and this has been our first big injury," she said.

"We are devastated by it but keeping our fingers crossed we'll have a better outcome," she said of Mr Simpson's rehabilitation prospects.
His mother Susan and older brother Gus rushed to his bedside at the Foothills Medical Centre, Alberta's largest hospital, after arriving from New Zealand on Monday.

The fund-raising appeal on the Youcaring.com website was organised swiftly by an instructor at the gym, Andrea Seright, who posted that Mr Simpson had suffered "a tragic accident on a trampoline while training tricks for skiing."

She has been off-duty and unavailable for direct comment since the accident on Friday, but Ms Fedyna said the staffer was not a witness to it and investigations into the circumstances were continuing.

"It wasn't Andrea at the scene - she's just spearheading a support programme."

"We're all moved by it, so obviously Andrea was moved by it and helped set it up."

Neither was Ms Fedyna at the gym when the accident occurred, having been away for Canada's Thanksgiving public holiday, and she said she was still updating herself about it after returning to work today.

"But I do know we are devising a plan right now to try to see if we can figure out anything to help out with the family."

She said the accident was being investigated by the Alberta Gymnastics Federation, as well as the gym and its sports insurers.

"I have just got in and these sports accidents are a tragedy for sure, and we are definitely going through all the procedures to try to get all the information."

But she was unable to comment on whether the gym's insurance cover might be able to be extended to some of Mr Simpson's medical costs.

Ms Seright said on the appeal website that proceeds would be put to multiple uses, including helping with his family's flights and living expenses while in Calgary as well as any medical needs not otherwise covered.

"Ian will eventually need a powered wheelchair and the cost is between $2000-$3000 for that alone," she wrote.

Brad Smeele, an Auckland-based former junior world wakeboarding champion paralysed after smashing his C4 vertebrae in an accident in Florida last year, said earlier that Mr Simpson should have a good chance of eventually regaining enough functional arm movement to operate a manual wheelchair.

An ACC spokeswoman said today that Mr Simpson was likely to have been away from New Zealand for too long to qualify for cover from her organisation, so was pleased the website had raised so much money in such a short time.

Mr Simpson's father John, who runs the Mt Hay station on the eastern shore of Lake Tekapo, said on Monday that his injured son had been working as a specialised welder in Canada after initially travelling there as a ski instructor.

Supporter Malcolm Dick, one of several to have pledged $500, posted on the appeal site: "Good luck mate, our kids are practising the same crazy stuff."

Retired Timaru Boys' High School rector Kevin O'Sullivan remembered Mr Simpson well from his time as a boarding student there from 2004 to 2007.

"Both he and his brother Gus were what I'd call great high-country former kids," Mr O'Sullivan told the Herald from Dunedin.

"They were extremely loyal and enjoyed the opportunity to get an education, but also just as keen to get back into their natural environment - back into the high country - as often as possible."

"I'm absolutely sure there'll be a rallying around of those who went to school with Ian, and those around the Mackenzie country who know the family."

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