Michael Thorncroft: Turning Adversity into Ambition

Meet Michael Thorncroft, a resilient 31-year-old whose life changed dramatically after a serious motocross accident, inspiring his journey towards recovery and advocacy for mental health awareness.  

Nestled in the vibrant coastal town of Coffs Harbour, Michael lives with his partner Courtney and their one-year-old son, Hunter and is a heavy diesel mechanic by trade. Michael enjoys the great outdoors—camping, four-wheel driving, mountain biking, motorbike riding, and spending quality time with family and friends.

On January 13th, 2024, Michael’s life took an unexpected turn when he had a serious motocross accident. Crashing through a rhythm section, he sustained multiple rib fractures, a punctured lung, a torn rotator cuff, multiple spinal fractures, and a spinal cord injury resulting from an L2 vertebrae fracture. After being stabilized at Coffs Harbour Base Hospital, Michael was transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital for emergency spinal surgery. He spent a week in ICU, followed by shoulder surgery, and then two months in the spinal injury unit. Michael’s recovery continued at Royal Rehab’s spinal injury unit for another four months. His injury left him a paraplegic, largely reliant on a wheelchair.

Despite these immense challenges, Michael’s resilience and determination shone through. During his time in rehab, he set a goal to walk again—a goal he’s been fortunate enough to make progress on, allowing him to walk short distances with a four-wheel walker or crutches. His journey to mobility continues as he strives to reduce his dependence on a wheelchair. Michael was recently discharged on July 17, 2024, and returned home to Coffs Harbour, where he and his family are still aiming to achieve their goal of traveling around Australia in 2026, despite his injury.

Spinal cord injuries present unique challenges, with varying feelings, sensations, pain, and abilities for each individual. Mentally, it has been a tough road for Michael, his partner, and his family. However, his positivity and strong will have been crucial in keeping him motivated and focused on the bigger picture.

LIVIN has been a brand close to Michael’s heart for a long time. He appreciates LIVIN’s work in raising mental health awareness, an issue that’s personally important to him due to the struggles he’s witnessed among friends, family, and acquaintances. Michael believes in the power of a simple smile or a friendly hello to start a conversation and potentially make someone’s day.

Michael’s next ambitious goal is to participate in the Q1 Stair Challenge, a significant undertaking for someone with his injuries. He plans to train diligently at the gym four to five days a week, alongside weekly physiotherapy sessions, to prepare for the climb with the LIVIN team.

If you want to support Michael on his journey, consider visiting his GoFundMe page.

Join us in cheering for Michael as he takes on new challenges and continues his path to recovery. Together, we can make a difference in raising awareness for mental health and supporting those facing tough battles.