Australian Paralympian Lewis Bishop is preparing to compete against the world’s best at the 2024 Paralympian Games in Paris after being saved by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section).
The young swimmer was only nine years old at the time when a boat reversed over him while knee boarding off Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea.
“I jumped out of the back of the boat and the driver didn’t realise I was there and reversed backwards over my leg which got sucked up by the propellor,” Lewis said.
“Luckily, I was wearing a life jacket or else I would have died.”
Lewis was flown to Townsville Hospital, but due to the extent of his injuries, his right leg couldn’t be saved and was amputated below the knee.
A week later Lewis’s leg became infected and the RFDS (Queensland Section) transferred him to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane for more life-saving surgeries.
“I remember looking up at the roof of the plane and talking to the RFDS flight nurse who was really kind to me,” Lewis said.
“I would like to thank the RFDS, if it wasn’t for them, who knows where I’d be.”
He spent two months in hospital and several more months in rehabilitation with the Limb Difference Clinic.
Lewis is eternally grateful for the transfer to Brisbane where he gained better access to prostheses services.
“I was starting to really struggle because I didn’t understand what opportunities I would have in sport,” Lewis said.
An inspiring encounter with Paralympian Brenden Hall, plus support from his sport-loving family, was all it took to change his perspective.
“Brenden was a big inspiration for me at the time,” Lewis said.
“He said to me, ‘Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do’."
Lewis learnt to walk on his prosthetic leg within a week and returned to the pool as soon as he got home.
“I started doing a few laps in the pool, a couple of times a week, and then at age 10 I enrolled in my first swimming event,” Lewis said.
“The goal for me has always been Paris.
“Realising you are achieving your dream, just makes it all worthwhile.”
With his eyes set on the podium, Lewis will compete in the 100-metre butterfly in Paris, with plans to qualify for the 2032 Paralympic Games on home soil in Brisbane.
“My journey hasn’t been easy,” Lewis said.
“If someone says you can’t do it — prove them wrong.”
