CHEK Upside: Victoria amputee aims to inspire others on road to recovery

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Trevor Coey, an amputee in Victoria, is training to accomplish the unthinkable after losing his right leg in a tragic accident.

In his late thirties, Trevor Coey discovered a new love in trail running.

“Just to find something that I was so passionate about, was really a gift,” said Coey, a self-proclaimed lover of the outdoors.

He worked his way to 50-kilometre races and rose the ranks on the Vancouver Island circuit. By year two, Coey ranked atop the overall men’s standings.

On February 24th, 2018, Coey’s life, however, took a tragic turn.

“I had a catastrophic accident helping a friend with some tree work,” said Coey, a professional arborist who was helping his friend in a non-work-related project.

The husband and father of four boys, Coey suffered a shattered pelvis and wound up in a coma for three days.

The injury resulted in Coey needing to have his right leg amputated below his knee, putting a halt on his competitive trail running days for the immediate future.

Despite spending two months in hospital, Coey somehow stayed positive through it all.

“I miraculously survived an accident that I shouldn’t have and I knew that I was going to make the most out of every day that I had.”

Over the past few years, Coey dedicated whatever time, funds and energy he had in adapting to his new life.

With his injury occurring outside of work, he did not qualify for workman’s compensation, therefore, he’s relied on grants and donations through his GoFundMe page.

Today, the 44-year-old says he is determined to stay active and not let his injuries hold him back. He’s already biking, playing golf, and hiking mountains.

Coey, however, has bigger plans ahead.

“Two goals — I want to run another fifty [kilometres], which I know is going to be a huge challenge but is a challenge I’m up for, and the other goal is to inspire people and be a role model, help people meet their goals.”

The road to recovery is long and steep, he’ll need modified parts for his prosthetic and plenty more hours of training.

He’s calling it the ‘toughest race of his life’, but in the distance, he can already see the finish line.

“With the right mindset and the right attitude and enough desire, anything is possible.”

Kevin CharachKevin Charach

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