Surfer Matthew Scott slammed head-first into the sand bar at Mangawhai Heads and was critically injured on February 18. The injury left him a quadriplegic, with an incomplete spinal cord injury. Scott spent four months in a spinal unit and is now recovering at home in Mangawhai - with specialist care in Auckland Matthew Scott was living his best life riding the familiar Sunday waves at the Mangawhai Heads Bar when tragedy struck.
The 32-year-old was an experienced surfer and lifeguard , who had been involved with many rescues - but his life changed when he became the subject of a major rescue himself. On February 18, Scott slammed head-first into the sandbar at the popular Northland beach - leaving him a quadriplegic and sparking a major rescue by surfers, lifeguards and ambulance staff..
