Back from the dead
By Charles Elias
SGT Gary Burke is one of the luckiest men alive.
A communications electronic technician with RAAF Base Williamtown’s GTESPO, the 54-year-old literally treasures every morning he wakes up.
The reality is he went within a whisker of being just another Australian statistic serving his nation and fighting for the freedom of others thousands of kilometres away from home.
The fact that he has survived a horrific road accident in Iraq is as remarkable a tale as his subsequent rehabilitation, thanks to his own dedication and strength and the unstinting support of medics and work colleagues back at Williamtown base.
“That’s what I want this story to highlight, the fantastic support I have received in my recuperation from my unit, welfare and medical staff,” he said.
Having joined the RAAF at the relatively late age of 40 [following a stint in the Army], SGT Burke, now in his sixth year at Williamtown, was excited to receive his first deployment to the Middle East as part of Operation Catalyst in June 2007. He was part of the Multi-National Force Iraq, working in the Communication Information Systems Directive in Baghdad as a video teleconference team leader with a responsibility for CIS projects.
A fitness enthusiast who proudly boasted his MedCat 1 (top) rating, Sgt Burke was out jogging on the afternoon of Monday, September 17, 2007, at Baghdad’s Camp Victoria when he was struck from behind by an American Army High Mobility vehicle.
“I was later told that although the vehicle was travelling slowly the impact was so intense that the first troops on the scene thought I was dead. It was only luck that on impact my head was protected by my left shoulder.”
His injuries were nevertheless horrific: fractured left foot, dislocated and twisted left shoulder, fractured elbow, cracked kneecap, crack on the head and the degloving of skin on his right hand and forearm.
“I woke up with my arm trapped under the vehicle’s tyre. I can remember pleading with the driver to back up before I borrowed a towel to stem the blood flow.”
The Sergeant was transported to the camp clinic in Iraq before being evacuated by air back to Newcastle. Following a short stay at John Hunter Hospital his recuperation - both physical and mental - commenced.
SGT Burke admits now there were times when he wondered whether he could cope. For a keen runner to be told that he would never run again can be quite demoralising. Then there were the mental demons.
“Physically, I was prepared to put in the hard work but the mental anguish you can never prepare yourself for that.
“That is where the family and unit support had a profound effect ... it drives you to keep going.”
SGT Burke returned to fulltime work four weeks ago and last week he completed his first Personal Fitness Training test since the accident - comprising a 5km walk in addition to a series of push-ups and sit-ups - to regain his MedCat 2 rating.
Copyright Fighter Force News
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