Beau Vernon

In 2012, Beau Vernon’s life as he knew it changed forever.

What started as a normal incident in a game of Aussie Rules, left Beau with C5-C6 quadriplegia.

Beau was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma for a week, he couldn’t talk, eat or breathe for several weeks after the accident.

He went from an active 23-year-old who never sat still to spending eight months in hospital and rehabilitation.

Beau credits the support he received from family, friends and even those he hadn’t met before for pushing him to achieve.

He also credits wheelchair rugby icon Nazim Erdem for being a huge part of his journey. The Paralympian would attend rehab with Beau, answer questions and provide hope for living a normal life.

AFL remained a constant in Beau’s life, he went on to become a premiership winning coach, coaching three teams to senior grade flags in the Gippsland League.

Joining the Australia Steelers has meant the world to Beau who enjoys the team camaraderie as well as the physical nature of the sport known as ‘murder ball’.

When he’s not training or on court, you can find Beau spending time with his wife and three children. He’s also the director of disability company, Interact Australia.