Kallangur eight-ball star feared career was over after breaking his neck in waterfall accident.

By Yourwellness Last updated Jul 31, 2014 14

The Kallangur resident had the misfortune of a swimmer landing on him after he resurfaced at the popular Gardner’s Falls waterhole at Maleny while enjoying a quiet Sunday with friends on February 23.

But what puts things into perspective is that having fractured his C6 and smashed his C7 vertebrae it could have been much worse.

But two months later he was back on the tables at Northern Districts Eightball Association.

He admitted he first thought playing his chosen sport again was a long shot.

“It was all a blur the last few months because of how bad the accident was. Not many people can say they’ve broken their neck in two places and still been able to walk,” he said.

“It scared me a bit because as soon as I did it, it kind of hit me I probably wasn’t going to play at all for the rest of my life.

“As soon as I had the surgery I got up and was walking, which was good. But I didn’t know whether or not I could play, because I had the neck brace on.

“I didn’t know if I could bend down and take a shot.

“I’ve got four titanium screws that hold C6 and C7 together with a bracket. They took some of my hip and fused it in the middle. On C6 there was a hairline fracture and they had to get that to naturally heal up.

“The accident as I said was an accident. I mean I’m still dirty with the guy who landed on me.

“Dylan (King, a friend), he kept me calm during the incident. I just thought I’d pulled a neck muscle until I got out of the water I realised something else was definitely wrong.

“When I initially got hit, I got pins and needles from the neck down. It was just like when you hit your elbow or something.

“I got all feeling back but the part that scared me the most was I went to grab a rock to pull myself up and I slapped it. I had no grip.”

Girlfriend Tahlia Costello held van Kempen’s neck still as King drove him to Maleny Hospital, before being transferred to Nambour and eventually the Royal Brisbane.

“I put on a brave face because I really wanted to go (to worlds) but deep down inside I didn’t think I was a chance,” he said.

Van Kempen said he was close to the level he was at pre-injury and would be working hard to improve before taking his place for Australia incompeting in Blackpool, England, for which he departs next week.

But the result at the world titles would be inconsequential.

“I can still play, which is the main thing. Hell, I thought I wasn’t going to play at all. I live every day I can now,” he said.