Serena Kirby, Denmark Bulletin

Denmark GP Alex Sleeman is learning to walk again after sustaining serious spinal injuries from a tractor accident on his property last September.

Alex had been pulling out a tree stump with his tractor when the vehicle flipped, throwing him to the ground and trapping him underneath.

The accident left Alex with numerous wounds, multiple pelvic fractures and a fractured spine combined with a double dislocation of his lower spine.

After spending the first two months lying flat due to wound complications, Alex is now working hard to improve his upper body strength and lower limb mobility.

His hip and leg movement is continuing to develop but Alex admits his ankles and feet are ‘basically buggered’ as he’s still unable to move them.

“I don’t think they’re ever coming back but that’s okay as I can live with that,” he said.

With the help of carbon fibre-braces attached to his calves, ankles and feet Alex learning a new way of walking and has progressed from being confined to a wheel chair to starting to use a walking frame.

Speaking from the Fiona Stanley Hospital rehab centre in Perth, Alex said there had been many highs and lows both emotionally and physically but says the dark moments had been fleeting and short lived.

“My glute muscles, which are key to hip extension, were running at around 5 per cent capacity and now they’re at 10 per cent,” Alex said.

“It’s only a 5 per cent improvement but that’s actually double what it was so you just have to put it into a positive perspective.

“I plan to do everything I used to do but I’ll just do it a bit differently and good luck to anyone that tells me I can’t do something.”

Alex said there was little doubt his previous career as a Navy clearance diver (trained in the disposal of explosives and the Navy’s equivalent to the SAS) has helped him deal with his challenges.

“This is hard but it’s not nearly as hard as the Navy dive course so if I can go through that I can go through this,” he said.

He had a whole new understanding about the difficulties facing people with a physical disability.

“I’m not really any different than I was four months ago as I’m still me but you get treated differently when you have a disability and that’s been a real eye opener.”

Alex has not lost is his sense of humour and he’s constantly seeing the funny side of things like being woken up to be given a sleeping pill or being woken to be given pain relief.

“If I was in pain I certainly wouldn’t be sleeping,” he said.

He continued to be thankful for the support from his family and the local community and his aim was to return home in the next two months.

Once back in Denmark Alex will continue his rehab locally and hopes to return to working as a GP on a limited part-time basis some time later this year.

Alex and Agata Sleeman with their children Chris, Sophie and Pablo.
Pictures supplied.

Alex and his family toured the Royal Flying Doctor Service centre in Jandakot last week in recognition of the Sleeman children’s efforts in raising $32,000 in four weeks as part of the RFDS Ocean To Outback campaign.

This is the second highest amount ever raised during this annual fundraising event.

This article appeared in the Denmark Bulletin, 9 January 2025.
Related stories: Tractor horror – Alex’s eyes on the future; Dr Alex Sleeman – divind into a country practice.