Moore says his fitness is good and he expects to soon start 40km training walks. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
Warning: This story discusses graphic details and an image of a logging accident
Just six months after he nearly died during an accident when cutting a tree branch, a Dannevirke man will walk more than 200 kilometres to Wellington.
Trevor Moore suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed by helicopter to Wellington Hospital - a trip that saved his life.
Now, as he makes a remarkable recovery, he wants to pay back those who helped him live.
Moore, 62 can't remember the accident on 31 May, but knows what it did to him.
"My skull was split, exposing my brain. I was leaking brain fluid from my head and my nose and I broke every bone in my face - both eye sockets. That's why I have trouble with my eyes."
He's been told he headed to a remote part of the Tararua District, out the back of Pahīatua, to help a mate.
"He's an arborist. I was there on the [traffic] lollipop sign and I was bored, so I picked up a chainsaw, so he told me.
"The first cut went wrong. A very large macrocarpa limb, instead of falling it kicked back. If I hadn't had my helmet on I would have died there and then."
Moore was rushed to Wellington Hospital in the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter. Paramedics aboard the chopper, based at Palmerston North Hospital, realised his injuries from the log were so severe he needed to get to the capital.
Had he waited for an ambulance and gone to hospital by road it's unlikely he would have lived.
"I have no memory of the day before or the day of the accident," Moore said.
"I was in a coma for a week, and [I don't remember] a couple of days after that, so nearly two weeks with no memory."
Trevor Moore was taken by helicopter to Wellington Hospital after he was severely injured on 31 May. Photo: Supplied
He woke in the Wellington Hospital intensive care unit, and then moved into the acquired brain injury unit. During his stay of about a month he basically learned to walk again, at first making only gradual, assisted steps.
"From the time I came out of the coma it was three weeks until I was confident on my feet."
As he recovered, he thought he wanted to say thanks, so decided to do a walk just over six months on from the accident.
He's gradually built up his mileage on the roads around his property - and has become a recognisable figure in his hi-vis "Trev's walk for recovery" branded gear, and with his dog, Blaze, at his side.
Moore and Blaze - a 15-month-old english springer spaniel - start the fund-raising walk on 2 December and aim finish on 8 or 9 December, walking 40km or 50km a day.
Blaze will split his time between pounding the tarmac and following alongside in a support vehicle.
"I'm starting from my house on the north side of Dannevirke to Wellington ICU. That's roughly 250km.
"I'm doing it to raise awareness and funds for Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter, who were the helicopter that came to my rescue and flew my to Wellington ICU.
"I will be walking to raise funds for them and to say thank you to the team in Wellington for saving my life."
Trevor Moore and Blaze have become a common site on the roads around Dannevirke as they train for their walk to Wellington. Photo: RNZ / Jimmy Ellingham
RNZ joined Moore on a brisk walk along country roads near his home, and watching him power along it's hard to believe how badly he was injured just months ago.
He said his fitness was good, and to treat his aches and pains, including long-term knee trouble, he'd have a sauna at home after training.
"It's actually really not too bad. I'm surprised. I'm working up good stamina. The legs are good. I've just got to work on the head."
Over the next few days Moore will increase his training walks to include some of 40km.
But so soon after an horrific accident, not every day is easy.
"Some days I get black or dark days, as I call them, where my head just gets filled [and] overwhelmed with what happened.
"I suffer from headaches and when I get tired or stressed my eyes either see double vision or just go out of focus."
Moore wants to raise about $15,000. He said the chopper costs $9000 every hour it's in the air, so $15,000 was about the amount spent on him.
He's had some sponsorship help with branded clothes and energy food, but is on the lookout for a self-contained camper van to use during the trip to Wellington.
"I'm really really grateful for all the support that people on the street have given me and people on Facebook have given me. It's just amazing. It lets me know I'm not doing this walk on my own."
Moore was also due to attend the helicopter's trust's upcoming open day and speak at a fund-raising dinner. He hopes he'll get more similar opportunities to share his story.
Moore is using his Facebook page, Trev's Walk for Recovery, to update people on his progress.
Sharni Weir, the rescue helicopter trust's fund-raising and marketing manager said: "We cannot thank Trevor Moore enough for his efforts in supporting the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter through his Walk for Recovery fundraiser.
"His generosity towards this vital service is incredible and we are truly grateful to have someone like him in our community helping us continue to save more lives."
The trust has set up an online fund-raising page to help Moore meet his goal.
