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In August 2020, Chantelle Doyle (Chon) was knocked from her surfboard by a juvenile white shark, leaving her with damaged bones, ligaments, muscles and nerves. Chon recalls the moment in the water and the role Fitness First has played in her ongoing rehab journey, as she prepares for for a public fight in October - SydneyContender.
"In August 2020 I was knocked from my surfboard by a juvenile white shark.
"As soon as I was airborne, I knew what awaited me when I impacted the water. And it hit. Hard and fast. A thunk. Then a regrip. Then a crushing sensation which I likened to a dogbite. I had damaged bone, ligament, muscle (two hamstrings that weren’t repaired), plus four nerves. It’s the nerves that get you. Those severed nerves resulted in paralysis to much of my leg below the knee as well as chronic neuropathic pain. It missed my artery though, by '1mm, maybe 2' according to the surgeons. And that is why I kept my leg and probably my life.
"It has been two years since then and it has been tougher than I imagined. I have been sometimes angry and often lonely, but my biggest solace came from an unexpected place, my local Fitness First gym. Exercise made the pain and emotional rollercoaster bearable, without it I am not sure how I would have coped. Exercise began with achingly slow laps of the heated pool. Embarrassed by my flopping leg I slid from the closest seat into the water as fast as I could. Then I ventured to the gym floor, doing band and balance work trying to will my paralysed muscles into functioning. I often sat out of people’s way, out of site. I kept my head down avoiding any looks and trying to hide tears. They didn’t know it, but my lifeline during that time was the staff at Fitness First. Every day I hobbled in, they would welcome me, smile, often asking how I was. Occasionally commenting on my progress, noticing the changes, and helping me feel welcomed. It is difficult to articulate how much those small gestures meant.
"Today I am more resilient, my world has widened and with the help of an orthosis I can physically do most things, albeit slower and still with pain. When I visit a gym I lift my head, I make eye contact and around me I see others pushing their boundaries. Others with visible struggles. Maybe they have neurological damage, maybe a physical disability or maybe their limits are unseen. The role of gyms to support and encourage physical and mental wellbeing is invaluable.
"I still visit Fitness First as a type of lifeline, but now I am aiming bigger. I am working with the trainers there as well as Battaglia Boxing as I prepare for a public fight in October (SydneyContender ). The terror of this night is, I hope, pushing my recovery beyond what I can do alone. But I have never wanted any if this to be about me. Not for a single moment have I blamed that shark and perversely I am proud that Australia has strong environmental protection laws (that could be much stronger!) and such astonishing marine diversity. I am sharing this story publicly because I want a future where I don’t have to explain any more extinctions to my little boy and moreover, we, as a united country will be leaders in global conservation, collectively proud our caring for nature That is why I am fundraising for the Aust Marine Conservation Society, an organisation protecting our marine life for 57 yrs.
"I also hope that, if you have a hidden or obvious disability, chronic pain, mental health challenges or sometimes just find life hard sometimes (and isn’t that all of us) then you don’t feel too alone and that you can find a place to feel safe and supported. In my darkest loneliest times, I found solace at Fitness First of all places! Now isn’t that unexpected."
Chon is competing in the Sydney Contender Fight Night in October, raising awareness and funds to protect Australia's oceans. You can find the details here: https://www.marineconservation.org.au/actions/22-donate-punching-for-healthy-oceans/