Wave of aid for surfer

KATINA CURTIS

THE local surfing and business communities are rallying round Kiama surfer Darren Longbottom and donating generously for a benefit night for him.

Mr Longbottom broke his neck in a surfing accident in the Mentawai Islands, in Indonesia, last week.

“He was just surfing along and he went to pull off the back of the wave and, as surfers do, he dived off and he’s gone one way, his board’s gone the other and he’s gone down head first into his board,” Mr Longbottom’s friend, Steve Conti, said.

The surfer was evacuated to a hospital in Singapore by helicopter and jet and his family joined him from Australia.

“The report I got this morning was that he can actually move his fingers a little bit now and he’s got a tiny bit of movement in his arms, but from the chest down he’s paralysed and can’t feel anything,” Mr Conti said.

It is unknown how long Mr Longbottom will have to remain in the Singapore hospital.

Mr Conti is organising a benefit to raise money to help with the cost of the hospital stay, returning to Australia and rehabilitation as well as costs associated with his family being in Singapore.

The fundraiser night will be at Shellharbour Workers’ Club on July 3 and tickets went on sale yesterday.

The evening will involve traditional and silent auctions, a raffle and a balloon auction.

Mr Conti said Kiama and Shellharbour businesses had been very generous in donating gift vouchers, services and goods. He had also received goods from many of the major surfing companies.

World champion surfer Mick Fanning has given one of his boards signed by 44 pro-circuit surfers.

Tickets for the benefit night cost $100, which includes a two-course meal and drinks. They are available from the Shellharbour Workers’ Club on 4296 7155.

Raffle tickets will be sold through local schools and businesses.