The Raglan community has rallied big-time to the financial rescue of a local outdoorsman who shattered his pelvis in a freak accident half a world away, but whose insurance cover had lapsed a week earlier.
Now – thanks to a Givealittle page which raised the initial target of $30,000 in just a few days – Charlie Hogg looks set to be winging his way back home from Canada this weekend.
Donations from Whaingaroa and beyond poured in at such a rapid rate last week that the 30 year old took to social media himself, getting up out of his hospital bed and into a wheelchair for the first time to make an emotional video message from outside Prince George Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta.
He wanted to send “a massive shout-out and a thank you to everybody back home and all over the world” for their love and support since hearing of his accident while horse riding in the Rocky Mountains.
“I am blown away, I’m really lost for words,” he said, adding he was looking forward to catching up for a beer with friends and family on his return.
He was impressed with his “sweet new wheels” – his wheelchair – and gradually getting some movement in his legs, he said. “I am working really hard to get back on my feet and back into the hills.”
Charlie’s love for hunting and the outdoors had inspired his recent trip to the Northern Rockies, where the horse he was riding got spooked and reared over backwards on top of him, fracturing his pelvis in five places.
He was lucky to be carrying a personal locator beacon which, the Facebook post said, saved his life.
After an “agonising” three-hour wait in remote backcountry, Charlie was airlifted to the nearest hospital – Fort Nelson in British Columbia – then to a specialist care unit at Prince George where he spent the first two days in intensive care. The ‘Help Get Charlie Home’ page sought to cover his medical and rehabilitation expenses as well as emergency air ambulance fees and accommodation while in recovery. It was set up by friends – who lauded him online as an avid hunter, conservationist and outdoorsman – and backed by Real Kiwi Hunting for whom he’s worked as a guide.
“Charlie is a helluva guy!” Real Kiwi Hunting posted. “He’s done a great deal for the hunting community in New Zealand and we want to return the favour.”
Charlie’s father Pete told the Chronicle last Sunday he was amazed at the response to the Givealittle fundraiser. And he was more confident by the day that Charlie and his mother Lyn – who flew to Canada last week to be with him – would be on the planned 14-hour flight home from Vancouver this weekend.
Charlie was out of hospital, out of his wheelchair and getting around with the help of a walking frame.
At last count on Monday, the Givealittle page had reached over $33,000. His final medical bill was estimated to come in at $NZ37,000.
