By ANNA USHER

A dream holiday to Australia has ended in tragedy for Max Allen, 23, a university graduate from Arizona, who suffered a horrific injury at Balmoral Beach just 36 hours after landing in Sydney.

On September 6, Max joined his good mate and Mosman local Ollie Scott for an early morning swim. But as he ran into the water and took a shallow dive, he struck a hidden sandbar between the Boathouse and the southern end of the beach, fracturing his C5 vertebra – leaving him paralysed from the chest down.

The Scott family, who were hosting Max during his visit to Sydney,
rushed to the scene shortly after 9am, where Ollie’s mum Sofie was quick to recognise the “enormity” of the accident.

“The boys were room-mates at college in America and this was to be the trip of a lifetime for Max, who was staying with us for his first week in Australia,” Sofie said.

“It was a picture-perfect morning, and Ollie suggested a swim at Balmoral. They literally plonked their towels down on the sand and ran into the water.

“Ollie dived high – and Max unfortunately dived low.”

Sofie said the force of the impact left Max unconscious and floating in the water.

“By some miracle, there was an off-duty lifeguard on the beach who ran down and helped, no doubt saving Max’s life,” Sofie said.

“He stabilised Max’s head and kept him in the cold water to try and prevent the swelling to his spine.”

After being rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital, Max endured a six-hour operation which involved removing the fractured vertebra, performing a bone graft and securing his neck with plates and screws.

James Allen, Max’s dad, flew from the US the following day to be by his son’s side. Mum Julie arrived soon after.

He told Mosman Collective of his gratitude to first responders, paramedics, surgeons and medical staff who “gifted” Max with a second chance at life.

“Max is in good spirits, but the road to recovery will be long. We are blessed that he has regained some movement and has recently moved out of ICU and into the Acute Trauma Centre.”

The plan in the next six months, Mr Allen said, is to get Max well enough to travel home to the United States, where he can continue rehabilitation in Denver, Colorado.

To help make that happen, a GoFundMe has been set up to help the family with a “tsunami of unexpected bills”.

“The family will need to reconfigure their home, and their entire lives,” Sofie Scott said today, “there will be years of medical bills, therapy bills and home care. Hopefully the Mosman community can dig deep to help.”

Sofie said while best mate Ollie visits Max several times each week, the 23-year-old could also do with some “new faces”.

“Max is the most beautiful boy, who got to see Australia for just 36 hours before tragedy struck,” she said.

“I would love any local kids in their 20s to visit Max in hospital. He is such a positive kid who needs our help – from new friends, from the community, from anyone who can spare the time.”

Now it’s our turn. Mosman has a chance to rally behind Max -whether through a donation, a hospital visit, or simply by spreading the word. Every act of kindness will make a difference on his long road to recovery.