Heartbreak for twin brother who fears his sibling may never walk again after both were seriously injured in near-tragic work accident

A heartbroken teenager fears his twin brother may never be able to walk again after they were both injured in a workplace accident in north-east Queensland. 

Ethan and Christian Desborough, 18, were a week into their new jobs when steel beams weighing 2.5tonnes fell as they were being transferred on September 18.

Ethan bore the brunt of the tragedy at a business in the Mackay suburb of Paget, suffering massive injuries, including permanent damage to his spine. 

Christian saw it happening and was also hit, with one of his legs ‘crushed by two beams’ – he was fortunate as there were no fractures, but it was badly bruised.

He said Ethan is ‘lucky to be alive’ after seven steel beams fell on him. ‘The doctor told us he has a very slim to none chance of ever walking again,’ Christian told the Courier Mail. 

The twins were initially taken to Mackay Base Hospital, but Ethan’s injuries were so severe – he is paralysed from the knees down – he was flown to Townsville for treatment. 

When Ethan’s care there is completed with surgery, he is likely to be taken to Brisbane for therapy and rehabilitation.

For the moment, though, the twins’ parents Ryan and Makisha have moved to Townsville to be with their stricken son. 

The incident occurred on Monday, September 18 at a Paget business and a GoFundMe to help the family as they face the unknown has been started.

Mrs Desborough has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise some money to help with their expenses as they care for Ethan in hospital. 

‘I was supposed to start a new job which I have now had to postpone and my husband has had to take time off work,’ she wrote on the fundraising page, which had more than $7,000 in donations by Thursday afternoon. 

‘We have no idea how long we will be in Townsville for after his surgery. We are going to need accommodation and supplies for however long we are there.’

She said the family is thankful that Ethan is alive, while Christian said his brother is ‘a brave little man, he’s been positive the whole way through’.

The twins are very close to each other. ‘I haven’t been able to get to sleep the past couple of nights after seeing him getting crushed,’ Christian said. 

‘I keep seeing him lying there and I keep hearing the metal crashing on the ground.’

His dad said the past three days have been an ’emotional rollercoaster’ and the family is ‘running on empty’ but ‘keeping strong’ for their son and brother.

‘Ethan has just turned 18 and doesn’t deserve this, he has a huge future in front of him, this just isn’t fair,’ Mrs Desborough wrote on the GoFundMe site.

The parents praised their sons’ employer who had been very supportive, they said.