'I struggled to hold the tears back': Heartwarming moment Australian BMX star who was left paralysed after a freak crash rises to his feet to walk the love of his life down the aisle
- Sam Willoughby married his American sweetheart Alise Post on NYE in 2017
- He was injured in a training accident in 2016 where he was left paralysed
- In the lead up to their wedding Willoughby trained hard to start walking again
- He was able to walk Alise down the aisle, and dance with her on the special day
This is the heartwarming moment an Australian BMX star who was left paralysed from the chest down after a freak crash walked his long-term partner down the aisle.
Sam Willoughby married his American sweetheart Alise Post surrounded by 180 loved ones in San Diego on New Years Eve in 2017.
The then 26-year-old defied all odds following his life-changing training accident in 2016, when he was left with no movement below the chest.
An Australian BMX star who was left paralysed from the chest down after a freak crash has miraculously walked his long-term partner down the aisle
Sam Willoughby married his American sweetheart Alise Post before 180 family and friends in San Diego, on New Years Eve in 2017
The then 26-year-old defied all odds following the dire prognosis' of doctors in the US following his life-changing training accident in 2016, where he was left with no movement below the chest
He was determined to be standing on his special day and worked tirelessly for 15 months to regain the strength to get back on his feet.
'It's basic strengthening stuff, treating your body like a baby again so there's been a lot of crawling and core stability,' Willoughby said at the time.
Now aged 28, Willoughby is reminiscing about his big day and about how proud he is to have made it this far.
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'I struggle to hold the tears back. It was an amazing day. My wife and I had been through so much in the 12 months leading up,' he told Sunrise on Monday morning.
'Just to be there on that day and to have everyone that meant so much to us before and after the injury, just to kind of do that for them and for myself was amazing.'
Now aged 28, Willoughby is reminiscing about his big day and about how proud he is to have made it this far
'I struggle to hold the tears back I think. It was an amazing day. My wife and I had been through so much in the 12 months leading up,' he told Sunrise on Monday morning
'Just to be there on that day and to have everyone that meant so much to us before and after the injury, just to kind of do that for them and for myself was amazing'
Willoughby and Alise did not expect to be going through such hardship before their wedding day, but they were able to stick through it
Willoughby and Alise did not expect to be going through such hardship before their wedding day, but they were able to stick through it.
'One of the best things someone told me is struggle, struggle,' he said.
'There's struggles when I was an athlete and there's struggles now.
'Part of me embraces it and enjoys the struggles day to day and try to be the best version of me and that's what I pretty much did in the 12 months leading up to it.'
He was happy with his progress and knew he would be able to walk his partner down the aisle.
'I'm sort of able to shuffle out there a little bit, so that's the plan,' Willoughby said.
'That's been the last month I've been doing that every day. It's been a lot of work to get to that point.
'I've pictured it in my mind since the day I proposed to her but I'm sure it will be more emotional and nerve-wracking when I actually get there.
'I'm just very happy that I'll be able to be vertical at the ceremony with Alise and just enjoy the day as much as possible.'
'I've pictured it in my mind since the day I proposed to her but I'm sure it will be more emotional and nerve-wracking when I actually get there'
The pair were also able to enjoy an 'amazing' honeymoon in Italy, a few months after the wedding.
But Willoughby's greatest achievement is to be able to finally live independently.
'I mean walking down was huge, standing was huge, but the biggest accomplishment for me is just getting back to living independently and being able to live a normal life as I can,' he said.
'That's been my biggest triumph since the injury.'
But Willoughby's greatest achievement is set down to being able to finally live independently
Following the incident Willoughby was determined to be vertical for his special day.
'I value life now more than ever and I probably overdo it a little bit sometimes, but I'm just trying to do everything I can to be healthy and keep moving forward,' he said at the time.
'I've already made gains that they said I never would and my ultimate goal is to be out of the wheelchair one day.'
Willoughby's family aren't the least surprised by his determination and progress.
'He's just been used to setting goals and chipping away at things,' his mother Sharon said.
'The sport of BMX, you need to be pretty mentally tough. You train hard, you tick all the boxes but that doesn't mean you're guaranteed an outcome.
'So it's a bit like that with rehab.'
'They're just a remarkable couple together. The support and the energy they get from each other and the positivity is just amazing in itself,' she said.
'And their whole support network, rivals and friends from the sport. You never know how anyone is going to react and cope but you couldn't fault one of them.'
