A woman’s spontaneous holiday weekend quickly turned to disaster, leaving her fighting for life in the ICU.
Rachelle Escabarte’s life was violently turned upside down in a matter of seconds after one simple act of kindness almost killed her.
The 28-year-old had booked a very last-minute trip to surprise her best friend, who lives in Hamilton, New Zealand, a mere three-hour flight from her home on the Gold Coast, Queensland.
After arriving at the property, she wanted to help out on the farm and decided to move one of their dirt bikes to a nearby shed for the night.
Rachelle was no stranger to motorbikes, having ridden them plenty of times in the past, but this one was a little different from what she was used to.
Rachelle Escabarte’s life was violently turned upside down in a matter of seconds after one simple act of kindness almost killed her. Jam Press/GoFundMe
Tragically, she misjudged how powerful the bike was and suddenly accelerated off a 1.5m high retaining wall, which she was unaware was in front of her, as it was already dark and she couldn’t see it.
Horrifically, the 90kg bike flung around and landed right on top of her small frame, cracking her skull and smashing her face with force.
Rachelle was left on the brink of death as her friends frantically pulled the bike off her shattered body and called an ambulance.
Rachelle was left on the brink of death as her friends frantically pulled the bike off her shattered body and called an ambulance. Jam Press/GoFundMe
As she lay near-dying in the ICU of Hamilton’s Waikato hospital, her family back in Australia received a phone call that made their world stop spinning.
“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” her older sister, Ava Mclean, told news.com.au.
“That is my little sister. She is such a free spirit and had randomly booked a last-minute trip to New Zealand.
“None of even knew she was there. She had only arrived that day, and by that evening, was in the ICU fighting for her life.
As she lay near-dying in the ICU of Hamilton’s Waikato hospital, her family back in Australia received a phone call that made their world stop spinning. Jam Press/GoFundMe
“She was visiting one of her best childhood friends, who now lives over there with her husband and kids.
“Getting that phone call was so scary, I thought the worst. As soon as you hear ‘ICU and ‘induced coma,’ I thought she wasn’t going to make it.”
Ava explained that due to the brain injuries she sustained, her sister does not remember exactly what happened, suffering amnesia around the event.
The extent of Rachelle’s injuries is severe.
She has sustained multiple facial fractures, a subdural haemorrhage (bleeding in the brain), pneumocephalus (air in the brain), a broken rib, spinal fractures – including an L1 burst fracture and T3 fracture – and a collapsed lung.
Due to the sheer force of the bike coming down on her face, her tongue was split in half by her own teeth, while she also had deep lacerations to her forehead and upper lip.
“She had so many injuries. It was shocking to see how her face was crushed,” Ava said.
“I’ve seen the CT scan and the top part of her jaw, just under her nose, that wasn’t even attached to her skull.
“All around her eyes, she had to have metal plates put in to hold her face together and reconstruct it.
“It is truly a miracle she has survived at all, let alone without being paralysed or brain-damaged.
“We worry about her mental health too, as she is a young girl and her face has been crushed. It is heartbreaking.”
Rachelle, who has now been in hospital for about three weeks, has already undergone four major surgeries, with a fifth still to come once she is able to return home to Australia.
Due to the sheer force of the bike coming down on her face, her tongue was split in half by her own teeth, while she also had deep lacerations to her forehead and upper lip. eyJpdiI6Imk0OFFUUXo1Qldzb3lEYUoxV1o3WHc9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiYndFN0wwZWkwM3V5cnZHdnc1RExFWS80YktEeXBGSm1hZUN0bTAra3I1aitOV255WHRkdUpZ
Right now, doctors are monitoring whether she is fit enough to fly home, but Ava said it is “looking positive” that it will be sooner rather than later.
Her recovery will be intense and will involve ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, special care, as well as many months or years of healing, both physically and emotionally.
The sudden freak accident has meant Rachelle has had to stop working her job as a traffic controller while she recovers, meaning she is not bringing in any income.
Her family has created a GoFundMe to help with the sudden onslaught of expenses and lack of employment during this time.
“We are devastated this has happened to her. She is such a warm, loving, and friendly person,” Ava said.
“Everyone’s kids love her. She is their favourite Aunty Rachelle.
She has sustained multiple facial fractures, a subdural haemorrhage (bleeding in the brain), pneumocephalus (air in the brain), a broken rib, spinal fractures, and a collapsed lung. Jam Press/GoFundMe
“She is the type of person to always be there for everyone and would drop everything she is doing to be with you.”
Ava said her entire family is in awe of how positive Rachelle has remained throughout her recovery, but joked the real thing that is “killing her” is being unable to eat solid food.
“She is such a foodie, she is always first in line at the buffet, she just loves eating, that is her thing.
“So just having to eat pureed food through a straw is so difficult for her; it is torture. But she has a lot of friends and family supporting her.
Rachelle, who has now been in hospital for about three weeks, has already undergone four major surgeries, with a fifth still to come once she is able to return home to Australia. Jam Press/GoFundMe
“My mum and brothers have been over to visit, and my cousins, as well as her dad and his partner. Her best friend is over there, too.”
Ava said that it is likely to be a long road ahead for her sister, with doctors suggesting it could be at least a year or more before she has fully recovered.
“We all just love her so much,” she added.
“She is such a beautiful person. We are devastated this has happened.”
To help Rachelle in her long road to recovery, please donate to her GoFundMe.