US tourist undergoes life-saving surgery after horror incident at popular Australian beach

Max Allen was just two days into his one-year working visa when he suffered a horrific injury at a popular Sydney beach.

The 23-year-old from Arizona was exploring Balmoral beach on September 6 with his Aussie mates when they decided to go for a morning dip.

While wading through waist-deep water, he dived forward and unknowingly struck a hidden sandbar, fracturing his C5 vertebra.

He was rushed to the hospital, where he had to undergo lifesaving surgery – making it just in time.

The six-hour operation at Royal North Shore Hospital 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.

His mom, Julie, flew over a few days later.

He told news.com.au he and his wife are incredibly thankful to the off-duty lifeguard who rushed to Max’s side, the emergency responders who were just down the road, and the incredible trauma team at the hospital.

“I got a call on the Friday, the 5th (of September), US time – it was about 8.30 pm and Julie and I were sitting outside on the patio. The call was actually from Max himself,” Allen said.

“I thought he was calling to check in on us, but he said he was getting ready to go into surgery after breaking his neck.”

Allen said he didn’t believe his son at first, as he can be a bit of a joker.

“The surgeon then picked up the phone and explained what was happening and that it was a life-changing injury.”

The medical team had to fuse max’s C5 vertebra by taking bone from his hip.

After surgery, Max was placed in the ICU, sedated, and intubated, since the C5 nerves control breathing.

“We waited until 3 am to hear from the surgeon,” Allen said.

He was told Max didn’t have any function below his neck at that point.

“So you can imagine the terror we had being 17 hours away. I got a flight the next morning and got here on Tuesday (last week).”

In the days that followed, his diaphragm began to recover, and the breathing tube was removed. Following his improvements, he was moved out of the ICU and to the acute trauma centre.

“He is eating solid food and is communicating. His right side doesn’t work, but left works pretty good,” Allen said. “He is doing well considering, but has a long road to go.”

Max has limited mobility in his limbs, and the future holds many unknowns, but the family remains positive and hopeful.

Max’s younger sister Olivia, has started a GoFundMe to help the family with “a mountain of unexpected challenges.”

She said donations will go directly toward international travel for family support, rehabilitation and physical therapy, home healthcare and medications, mobility, assistive equipment, and medical bills and international living expenses while Max recovers in Sydney.

Mr Allen said Max has travel insurance, but they’re still waiting to hear from the insurance company about medical transport, adding the $US44,900 raised will also go towards that if insurance falls through.

Apart from thanking those who have dug deep to support the family, Mr Allen also wanted to extend his gratitude to Max’s Aussie mates and their families.

Allen explained that Max recently finished a degree in urban development at the university and had always been interested in Sydney.

During his studies, he formed friendships with his four Aussie roommates, whom he reconnected with when he moved to Australia.

“I can’t overstate how important they have been, and their families in this time – especially as we don’t know anyone here,” Mr Allen said.

“They were by his side every minute – 23-year-old kids sitting by his side for six hours just holding his hand as he couldn’t communicate. It has been absolutely amazing to have that support system to help make this difficult time more tolerable.”

The Allens hope to bring their son home to the US as soon as he gets the all-clear, where he will be taken to a rehab centre in Denver, Colorado, as a long-term patient (about six to eight months).

“Our family mantra has become: ‘Little victories lead to big victories,’” Allen said. “Already, Max is working toward those victories every single day.”