PLEASE HELP OUR AMBO KITEBOARDING BUDDY LAURIE

Whilst going out to enjoy his passionate sport, kite boarding, Laurie became an unfortunate victim of one of mother nature's forces. In Australia, Melbourne, Aspendale at Gnotuk st beach. He was approximatly 100 meters out at sea, had a 11 meter kite up in 15 knots wind, which is the correct size for his weight. He was hit by a sudden 40 knot squall which is 80 km/h. When a force hits a kite like that it lifts the person vertically virtually instantaneously. In the time that it takes to release the safety he would have been too high already and in the wind's control. The wind direction was dead on shore and carried him over the beach. Laurie collided head first with the first beach retaining wall which knocked him out. He then got lofted again another 6 to 8 meters in the air and collided with the brick wall of a house. A couple on the beach ran to his assistance as did 3 builders near by. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Travis and Hookworm arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. THANKS BUDDIES.

The ambulances arrived there super quick. THANKS GUY'S. They set to work and had to bring in a chopper to get him to the Alfred hospital as he was in a critical condition where the surgeon's took over.

Laurie's current known injuries.
Left leg femur broken
Right leg ankle in pieces.
Hip broken
Ribs broken
Both lungs punctured
Broken cheek bone
Broken jaw bone
And most critical
Extensive serious head injures.

Once Laurie comes out of the induced coma under full life support systems, which has been since the 16/03/2006, he will be in hospital for the next 6 months and in a wheel chair for another 6 thereafter and that's optimistic speculations.

Laurie and Melanie have a six month old child. As you all know it's hard enough to keep a roof over your head and the bills paid and food on the table for your family at the best of health. What will happen to Laurie's family now?
Laurie's an ambulance driver studying to become a paramedic. He is the man first on the scene and the greatest kindest man around helping us when in an accident or needing medical help and giving us support. Now he needs our support.

..................................................LAURIE'S TRUST ACCOUNT....................................................

Lauries trust account is held at WESTPAC and the name of the account is LAURIES TRUST ACCOUNT BSB no is 733 058 Account no is 620972. Or you can click on the link to use our PayPal credit card acc look at the bottom of the site: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/helplaurie.asp


.............................................EXTRA INFO, LINKS AND THANKS 2...............................................



Updates on Laurie's condition will be posted on www.seabreeze.com.au in the Forums, kite surfing, general section and see "PLEASE HELP OUR AMBO KITEBOARDING BUDDY LAURIE".

Other LINKS to check out:
please use this first link to email to your mates.
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/helplaurie.asp

Herald Sun article.
www.heraldsun.com.au/nocookies?a=A.flavipes

Go through the pages till you find it:
"Major incident @ Gnotuk."
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=16672 by werty. Thanks werty.

http://www.kbv.org.au/?go=boardofthemonth


To a very special person endeavoring to help raise funds for Laurie and his family I would like to THANK Laurie from SEABREEZE for all your help and good work. THANKS LAURIE, LAURIE WILL BE PROUD.

Thanks to our man in the US of A Rick Iossi for your guidence. I cant wait to see the support come in. I know you will rock.

Thanks to Bill from KB mag cant wait to see your good works.

I would also like to thank all the positive supporters out there. Laurie needs all the help he can get.


THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT MATES.
KAOS.
[email protected]



....................LATEST UPDATES ON LAURIE'S PROGRESS FOUND HERE AND NEW POST CREATED EVERY UPDATE.......................




LATEST UPDATE.
1/08/2006 20:58



Hey All you mad kiteboarders.

Melanie had a welcoming party for Laurie this Sunday the 30 of July. His in law parents Mr and Mrs Blythman put on a mean spread. There was plenty of first class food and drinks all round and it was a very cheerful evening. Travis, Hookworm, Tapeworm, G.I.Joe, Spaz, Kane, Michael and Veronica were there as was all of Laurie's family. The lovely lady that helped save Laurie and cut his kite lines was there too. Thanks Victoria for helping our buddy. And a special thanks to a very kind buddy who has always been there for all of us who donated his X-Box with all the latest games to Laurie to help increase his co-ordination. Thanks Kung Fu Pete and his lovely partner Zoc.
And if I forget my lovely wife Jennifer I will be shot.

Laurie is looking stronger and healthier every time I see him. He is so cheerful and confident he even gave a standing speech to us all. I can't even do that on my best day. Well done Laurie. Laurie can stand on both legs now and he does not have a cast on his right leg any more. He is getting around with his walker and is doing really well. His right side is getting stronger and he is as witty as ever. The dude has just got out of hospital and has done so much research on all the new kites and gear and can't wait to get back into the sport again, it will take over 12 months but he is just full of energy. And unfortunately family survival will have to come first for them and I hope they make it.

I received a lovely card from Laurie thanking me and all of you supporters for the donations they had received and he wrote that it will help them out a lot and they really appreciate it. Thank U all.

Anyway I will catch up with you all later.

Cheers
Kaos.



.

quote:

---

Originally posted by zephyr

Best of luck to Laurie and his wife, baby and family from me and all the Inverloch Kiters.
Ill be supporting them with a donation to help out and hope others also feel the need to do so aswell.

Ive been teaching kiting for 6 years now and know of its potential dangers. As mentioned so many times before it is an EXTREME sport.... why else would we get such a thrill out of it.
Please, all Victorian kiters - just be careful and never underestimate mother nature, you know shes not happy when she's in one of her 'westerly' moods!

GOOD LUCK

p.s. can you send me a postal address so can send my well wishes to? email if you cant post it here. [email protected]. Cheers Jen.

---

Thank U very much jen i really appreciate what you are doing to help Laurie's family and will contact U via email shortly. Thanks

quote:

---

Originally posted by laurie

I've just donated and encourage others to do so as well...best of luck to Laurie.

---

Thanks Laurie and Seabreeze for the donation the sticky and the support.Your a good man Laurie. Thanks.

Hi Guys

The doctors have removed the bolts that where relieving pressure on his brain. They have started slowing the medication down for the next few days so that his system can slowly start getting used to coming out of the induced coma. Good luck Laurie. Once he comes out of the coma this will be the initial crucial point in determining the brain damage hopefully none. The doc’s say that over the next two years they will really know the condition of his brain.
Our best wishes are with you Laurie and family.

See ja
Kaos.

Hey Kaos,

Seriously Kaos, you rock! To have a mate like you at a time like this is awesome for Laurie and his family. It's people like you and all the others that helped Laurie in his time of need that makes the world a better place.

Thanks for keeping us all updated on Lauries progress and for setting up the trust fund. I have made my donation today and know that others will do the same.

Strength and best wishes to Laurie, his family and friends.

Regards

Flying Bat (Edithvale beach local)

Flying Bat a few minutes ago I was fuming because I had received some disturbing news that a particular association was trying to discredit all of our heart felt work that has been put into supporting Laurie so that they can gain publicity and most probably revenue. But after reading your post it has calmed me down and I am so glad that I have someone like you supporting us (Laurie’s BUDDY’S) 100% to do what ever we can to protect and support our injured friend Laurie.

Thank you Flying Bat.

I would also like to thank Laurie from Seabreeze, he has been so helpful.
I am also getting a lot of support from my KB buddies assisting me all the way.
Travis, Boombie, Bill, Laurie, Kung Fu, Super Hooper, Hookworm, Tapeworm and all the rest of you guys supplying info, thanks guys.

I know once Laurie comes out of the coma and realizes day by day that there are so many people carrying him and monitoring his recovery he is going to be the proudest buddy around.

Let’s give this man strength.

Hi everyone.

Our buddy LAURIE has had a plaster cast molded on his right ankle.
The left leg has been pined and stapled together a few days ago but the doc's are not putting it in plaster yet. Laurie is still in a induced coma and on full life support. Our presently weak buddy Laurie has acquired a virus and has been moved to a isolated ICU. The doc's have to keep Laurie still on full medication. The doctors, nurses and hospital staff at the Alfred Hospital are all looking after Laurie exceptionally well and we would like to say thank you for all there efforts, perseverance, and hard work while caring for our lovely friend Laurie. Thanks guys and Good work.

Thanks silviu

WOW

When we started the trust for Laurie I was worried sick that we would not raise any funds for our buddy. I told the guys that we where going to open up a trust for Laurie. I received Laurie’s first donation there and then from GI Joe and I was shocked. Once LAURIE'S TRUST ACCOUNT was opened and the info put on Seabreeze we have to wait 24 hrs for a transaction to show up. The next day there where a few donations and I was relived but skeptical. 3 days later the funds are coming in bigger and faster and I am EMOTIONALLY BLOWN AWAY that there are such loving caring supporting people out there like yourself. I get to read every transaction and see the company's and all of your names that contribute and some of those people are battling yet they are putting in hundreds its unbelievable. Thanks to all below.

SEABREEZE
KITER FROM PERTH
CLARENDON
MOSES SIMON DAVI
GAVIN JOHNS
ZEPHYR KITESURFING
SILVIA&FABIAN
KITEPOWER
YEPPOON KITESURF
BLOBBY LAURIE.
SLINGSHOT.
and numerous others.

Its great to sea the start of LAURIE'S TRUST ACCOUNT grow.
LAURIE'S TRUST ACCOUNT has started its first few steps of a very long distance race, well. Please help build the momentum and let’s give LAURIE all the support to get him to and beyond the finish line.

LETS GO FOR LAURIE.

thanks all.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Little J

All this support for Laurie is inspirational. Wouldn't it be great if we could get the support of the nation via something like "Current Affair"?!

I know i'll be down to my local Westpac branch 1st thing Monday.

Best of luck to Laurie and family there time of need.

---

YIP
Now you’re talking Little J.

When ever I watch Current Affair I always admire there dedication and perseverance to support and most of all PROTECT innocent victims of crime and they go over and beyond there call of duty’s to recover, correct or undo the damage caused to the good innocent people of Australia. They are efficient, fair and just. I have also seen that they are very compassionate. I see "Current Affair" as a good, fair, very powerful, life saving, individual person.

"CURRENT AFFAIR IS AUSTRALIAN'S HERO"

Current affair as a representative!!! LAURIE would be proud as he shared the same values.

PLEASE HELP OUR AMBO KITEBOARDING BUDDY.

Thanks Little J

28/06/2006 09:09Pm
Hi All

Update on our buddy Laurie.

He has a metal pin inserted in his left leg from his hip to his knee.
The doctor has to give him a tracheotomy, inserting a tube down his throat making an incision just below his Adam’s apple in order to give him oxygen and medication.
He has one pipe in each lung inserted through the sides of his ribs in order to drain fluids. He has a broken jaw bone and cheek bone and besides his damaged skull on the one side, he has broken pieces on the top of his head as well.
Laurie is still in the isolated intensive care ward and has pneumonia. Laurie is at the moment very week. Yesterday the doctors took him of the medication that was keeping him in an induced comatose state. So for the last two days we have been waiting for him to come out of the coma. Hold thumbs it’s soon and all is well.

Please get well Laurie.

sending best wishes. To a speedy recovery.

First of all best wishes to Laurie for a full recovery, and also best wishes to his family.
Kaos, what you are doing is awesome and keeping us all updated on Laurie's condition.Good on ya mate!!
Im a cameraman based in Perth and have contacts for A Current Affair and Today Tonight. If you want me to make some calls Id be more than happy to do so. Just let me know.
Im just not too sure that would be what Laurie and his family would want at the moment,interviews and filming in hospital.It would be fairly intrusive.
As I have said justlet me know.If you want to give us a ring to chat about it,call me on 0416 005 030.
Cheers
Gavin Johns

quote:

---

Originally posted by laurie

Richard has now setup a PayPal account, and I've setup a page to enable you to donate via that.

Visit www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/helplaurie.asp to view.

---

Thanks Laurie your a good man.

I have incorporated the web page on the first intro post. Check it out.

Thanks again.

Check out our Buddy Rick Iossi's work from another post. He is pretty clued up on weather. We all can learn from he's experience's.
Thanks Rick.

Excessively gusty winds are a significant hazard to kite boarders. Such unstable winds can come from a variety of sources in different parts of the world. Some are fairly widespread, like cold fronts and tropical systems and others like unstable wind generated by headlands (rotor), thermal winds, etc.. can be more local in nature. You have all of these sources of unstable weather and more in Australia I believe. Some articles on weather that kite boarders should carefully read over and think about appear below:

SQUALLS - SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO TRY TO AVOID THEM
click: www.fksa.org/showthread.php?t=5726

Cold Fronts, an article from SBC Kiteboard
click: fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=579

Wind Glorious Wind... an authoritative work on Australian Weather written by Seabreeze's own Laurie
click: www.seabreeze.com.au/info/wind.asp

A general set of guidelines derived from several years of accident analysis to try to avoid threats to riders and access appears at:
click: fksa.org/viewtopic.php?t=478


FKA, Inc.
transcribed by:
Rick Iossi

Hey Kaos,

Great news!!!! Let's see what the next 2 weeks bring for Laurie.

Thanks again for the updates, see you when the winds blows

Cheers
Flying Bat

Thanks Kaos.
They are really good news. Hope that now Laurie will make good and constant progress.
Keep us informed.

Silviu