Let's get Matthew Home!!

Our loveable Welshie Matthew has been living the Kiwi dream, working and exploring New Zealand for the past 2 years - as well as spending much of that time pumping iron in the gym too! Although New Zealand is a far cry from his home in Wales, he holds this country close to his heart as it is where he has met the love of his life and together they have been living the life we all aspire as young avid backpackers from the UK.

Last week, on a regular Tuesday at work, Matt was climbing a fixed ladder before reaching the top and hitting his head on a hatch above. The impact knocked him unconscious and caused him to fall 4 metres onto the ground below, tragically severing his spinal cord. It is with great sadness to succumb to the realisation, and say the words, that the fall has now left Matt paralysed from the chest down. Matt is currently in hospital recovering, and awaits the all clear to enter a rehabilitation programme for a further 3 months. Once medically cleared, the cost will then be faced to fly Matt safely home to Wales with the necessary requirements and to be able to progress his recovery.

Being the fantastic bloke Matt is - he hasn't let this accident define him and has remained a positive attitude although having been faced with such an unfortunate accident. He has heaps of support from all of his friends in NZ and especially from his partner and number 1 fan, Justine. However, although we are all here for Matt, it is at times like this that the support and help from close family and friends is most important which is why we have created this page to ease the financial pressure Justine and Matt face at this difficult time to get him home to them.

It would be deeply appreciated if you could please help, in anyway you can, to get our boy Matthew back home to the UK. Anything above and beyond the cost of flying him back will be used to help with the expenses faced during the process which lies ahead.

Thank you all for your support and thoughts.