Dad, 40, fights for life after e-scooter crash left him 'severely brain damaged'

A father is battling for his life after a horrific left him "severely brain damaged", just two days after his 40th birthday. Michael Valdivia had recently traded his old dirt bike for an on Marketplace, following a serious accident on his off-road motorcycle last May.

However, during a quick trip to the shops on his new e-scooter on April 27, Mikey - who was not wearing a helmet - was involved in another collision. This time, he suffered a traumatic brain injury that doctors are unsure he will recover from. His fiancée, Sophie-Leigh Barker-McMurray, revealed that she received a phone call from the police informing her that Mikey, from Queensland, Australia, was in a "bad way" just 20 minutes after he had left.

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"The cop told me to head straight to the hospital because it looked like he might not survive," the 27 year old shared with . "But on my way to the hospital I drove past the scene where Mikey was still being treated on the road, so I pulled over. There were about four ambulances, multiple police cars and a fire truck. I ran down, and I could see them intubating him and they put him in an ambo, and I went into complete shock."

Sophie, who works full-time as a nurse, said she "collapsed" after seeing the state of her partner of three years, with a police officer having to drive her the 30-minute journey to Hospital in Brisbane. Sophie, a heartbroken mum, shared her harrowing experience: "Doctors took me into a private room because I wasn't in a good way, but my sister Cassie had met me there, and she was with me when they said, 'we don't think he's going to survive. They told me I needed to be ready to say goodbye and to make sure I called all five of our kids and prepared them for what might come."

Scans revealed that Mikey had multiple haemorrhages on his brain, including one on his brain stem, which led doctors to urgently fit an intracranial pressure monitor. This device is inserted inside the head to record the pressure within the skull and transmit crucial measurements to a recording device. Mikey also suffered from several broken bones, including a shoulder, a clavicle and numerous metacarpals. After being informed that her fiance was unlikely to survive the next 72 hours, Sophie became "hysterical" and was also admitted to hospital, with doctors diagnosing her with broken heart syndrome.

"My body completely shut down. I was placed in the room opposite Mikey so I could see him, but I lost consciousness for a while. I'm a nurse and I had never even heard of it before. My dropped critically low and I was extremely unwell." Following Mikey's surgery, he was moved to the ICU. Shortly after, Sophie was strong enough to be discharged, but she stayed by his bedside, praying for her "perfect" partner to pull through.

"His specialist sat down with me and just said, 'we're really sorry, but the Michael you had won't even be able to come back," Sophie shared with news.com.au through tears. If he survives, he is going to be severely disabled, and we don't know to what extent. It felt like such a sledgehammer to the heart. Mikey is the most beautiful soul I have ever met. The love of my life, the rock of our blended family."

In the three weeks since his accident, Sophie has barely left Mikey's side, as he continues to fight and defy the odds for survival. "I'm really hopeful, but I am trying not to get my hopes up too much in case he doesn't make it, but yesterday he opened his eyes for myself and his eldest son," she revealed. "I said, 'Baby, do you remember me?' and he blinked once, which I took as a yes. Everyone in the room was cheering and shouting, 'Oh my God'. It was a really special moment."

However, with Mikey unable to work at his construction job, and Sophie spending all her time at the hospital, the family are in a difficult financial situation. A friend has created a GoFundMe page to help cover their living costs. "Mikey was in a serious E-scooter accident that left him with a severe head injury. He is now in a coma, and heartbreakingly, his condition has barely improved," it reads. "Right now, Mikey's fight for life is ongoing, and his family is by his side every step of the way. They are struggling to keep their home, pay bills, and care for their children during this heartbreaking time."

Sophie revealed she spent her final paycheck on their $700-a-week rent which secures their housing until May 20, but beyond that, the future is uncertain. "We've both always worked, and I hate asking for help, but I can't see how else we'll manage," she admitted.

"Last year I took three months out of work to care for Mikey after his dirt bike accident, as he broke three vertebrae in his spine. Just a few days before his crash on the e-scooter we'd paid for our flights and accommodation for our Bali wedding in August. We just never imagined we'd be in this nightmare situation."

Queensland Police are probing a single vehicle traffic incident that occurred around 7.25pm on April 27. A man was riding an electric scooter south along Springfield Parkway when he lost control and crashed," they said in a statement. "The 40 year old was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital with life threatening head injuries. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has any relevant dashcam footage to aid the investigation is urged to get in touch."

Since their inception in 2016, e-scooters have seen a market explosion, now valued at over $49 billion (£23.58bn) nearly ten years later – with data indicating a steady growth of 10 per cent annually. The trendy new mode of transport, often touted as "eco friendly" and "cheap", has sparked debate over safety and the use of public spaces. Several metropolises have clamped down on these vehicles, with bans in cities like Paris, San Francisco, and Madrid. However, has adopted a more open stance. The contraptions are currently legal in Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the ACT.

Victoria and South Australia are conducting trials, while NSW has just given the green light to e-scooters and bikes on shared paths and on-road bike lanes last week, although they remain off-limits on footpaths in the state. Sophie expressed her uncertainty about their impending nuptials proceeding but is concentrating on taking each day as it comes. "I've absolutely no idea what the future looks like, but right now, I need to support Mikey and our kids. We're all praying for a miracle."