During the last lap of a group motorbike ride on August 14, Matt fell off his motorbike and was rushed to the Dubbo Base Hospital.

That night he was flown to Sydney Royal North Shore Hospital, where it was discovered he had broken his back.

Matt is currently recovering at the Royal Rehabilitation Centre of Sydney.

He spent four weeks in the Royal North Shore Hospital and has now been in the rehabilitation centre for the past week and a half.

According to girlfriend Rebecca Motbey, doctors are very pleased with his progress.

“Doctors say he is doing extremely well and the level he is at now, normally takes someone a couple of months to reach, where he has reached it in a few weeks,” Ms Motbey said.

“They haven’t put an actual date on when he will be coming home, but he could be home in two to three months, instead of the predicted eight months.”

Ms Motbey said Matt was already talking about wanting to start work and get back to a normal life.

“He is already talking about going back to work, he can’t go back to welding, but he may be able to pick up some work in the same industry,” she said.

“His boss has been really supportive.”

Ms Motbey said Matt had the same routine he followed each day at the rehabilitation centre.

“He gets up and has a shower, then does a session of occupational therapy before lunch,” she said.

“In the afternoon he does two hours of physio in the gym, he sets goals with the doctors and they expect him to be able to do a certain amount before the end of the week.”

Ms Motbey said everyday Matt was challenged both mentally and physically, but he was strong.

“Everyone that has come to visit him, have been surprised on how well he is doing,” she said.

Ms Motbey has relocated to Sydney to support her boyfriend and was lucky to be able to transfer her job from Dubbo to Parramatta.

For the moment, Matt and Rebecca are concentrating on his recovery, but once he is able come home to Dubbo, they will be looking for a home that will cater for his needs.

The focus for Matt and Rebecca now is to recover while he is in the centre and then before he leaves Sydney, find a place to live back in Dubbo that will cater for his needs.

dani.volke@ruralpress.com