Johnny’s story: ‘I’ll never take my job for granted’
Senior Constable Johnny McGrail almost lost his life in a motorbike crash. As we celebrate Motorcycle Awareness Month, Johnny says both riders and car drivers need to be aware of the danger on our roads.
I still love my job after 40 years of service and I never take it for granted.
It’s a privilege working for the New Zealand Police and it comes with a responsibility to make a difference to our community. I know it could have been very different.
I can remember the day of my accident like it was yesterday. I was ready to clock off for the day when I heard a call on my Police radio.
It was Sunday 19 July, 2021 in Wellington City, and I was on frontline duties on my Police motorcycle. It was a beautiful day, and I remember I was looking forward to spending time with my family after work.
Then a call came through and I thought, ‘I’ll just help with this final job.’
Then I saw a car flying through a roundabout in a dangerous manner and my first thought was the car was being chased.
Without warning, the driver accelerated and swerved onto the wrong side of the road and straight towards me. I realised there was nothing I could do to avoid it.
I pushed down on my foot pegs and lifted myself up so I wouldn’t get caught behind the handlebars and braced for impact.
I knew it was going to be a terrible outcome. I thought I was going to be seriously hurt or killed. I just thought, ‘This is it.’ The impact hit me like a freight train.
‘The pain was constant, I was in agony’
After the crash, I tried to crawl to my motorbike to radio for help. That’s when I realised my leg was badly broken, it was like a piece of spaghetti.
I was sure I was going to die. I have six kids. I remember lying there and feeling so frustrated because there was so much more in life I still wanted to achieve.
I woke up in the Wellington Hospital Emergency Department in excruciating pain. My right leg was fractured in two places and I had a prolapsed disc at L3 in my lumbar spine, amongst other injuries.
I was in hospital for three weeks. The surgeon inserted a titanium rod implant into my right leg and I also had cortisone injected into my spine. The only constant was the pain. I was in agony.
The reality set in that my mobility had been severely compromised and it was going to be a long, hard, painstaking road to try and get myself back to any form of mobility, let alone on frontline Police duties.
Welcome support from ACC and Police
ACC and the New Zealand Police were awesome in the support they provided me in my rehabilitation. I couldn’t have done it without their help.
Four years on, I’m proud to say I’m 100 per cent recovered from my accident. I’m forever grateful for the support ACC provided me.
Towards the end of my rehab, I started thinking about whether I was going to get back on my Police motorbike. A lot of people thought I was crazy to consider getting back on my bike.
I did a lot of soul searching and discussed it with my wife and my supervisor. But I thought, ‘Yeah, I have just been involved in a life-changing event, but I’ve got to give it another go.’
There were nerves that first time but my confidence returned gradually and I haven’t looked back.
Learning how to Ride Forever
There’s no better feeling than riding a motorbike on the open road on a beautiful Wellington day.
But to truly enjoy the experience, the rider needs to have the right skills. I’m passionate about motorcycle safety because when you get it wrong the consequences can be dire.
I’m still riding Police motorcycles and regularly making guest appearances at the injury prevention Ride Forever bronze, silver and gold courses being run in Wellington, complete with my trusty Police steed.
Even though I’ve been riding for more than 40 years, I still complete a Ride Forever course once a year.
It’s not like you’ve done it once, tick it off. You continually have to work on your motorcycle training so you’re at the top of your game.
The most important piece of equipment on a motorbike is the rider themselves. You have to invest in your skills to ensure you ride safely and at the end of the day you get home in one piece.
Motorcycle Awareness Month
Motorcycle Awareness Month is run by ACC and the Motorcycle Safety Awareness Council (MSAC).
It celebrates the start of the motorbike-riding season and encourages riders to get ride ready.
More than 50 per cent of motorcycle riders de-register and put their bikes away over the winter months but that changes in spring.
This Motorcycle Awareness Month, get ready for your ride by doing these three things:
- Check your bikes are well-maintained
- Ensure your gear is up to scratch
- Refresh your skills by completing an ACC Ride Forever coaching programme
More information is available on the Ride Forever website.
