'McArdle meets his idols at Concord'

By Wayne Cousins, West’s Tigers Media Officer (July 18th 2006)

David McArdle arrived at West's Tigers headquarters with a smile. He left with a smile as bright and wide as a rainbow. The 26-year-old from Eschol Park, near Campbelltown, and his fiancée, Jenni Sharp, were invited by the Wests Tigers to attend a training session and to meet the team on Tuesday, July 18. It was the least the premiers could do after the harrowing experiences and bravery David has shown in the past few months.

In the early hours of Friday, March 17, David and a work-mate from Star Track Express were driving along the M4 Motorway when they witnessed a car hitting a guard rail. The men pulled over and after initially talking to the distressed woman, went about to secure the scene. As David entered the woman's car, little did he think that it would turn his world upside down. Two cars and a truck collided into the car David was in. At first glance, David thought he was fine. However, as he tried to climb out of the car, he discovered he could not move his legs.

When the paramedics arrived, they informed David his legs were pinned to the door. Once free, David was airlifted to Westmead Hospital – a place where he would later spend almost four months in. In all, David had close to 25 operations and as valiantly as the medical staff tried, they were unable to save his legs.

The invite to attend Wests Tigers training came in April when second-rower Chris Heighington heard of David's plight. During a visit to see David in hospital, Chris presented the passionate fan with a Wests Tigers singlet and cap and told him to come to training once he gets out of hospital. It was just one of the many incentives to keep David's spirits up. That and his plans to marry Jenni in November.

Upon arriving at Concord Oval, David's eyes lit up when an unexpected player in injured five-eighth Benji Marshall drove in. The pair spoke about rugby league as well as swapping some hospital tales. After being presented with a Proton Wests Tigers jersey, with Jenni receiving a coach's jacket, David had his photo taken with the NRL trophy. For an old Western Suburbs Magpies supporter, it was like gold. “I thought I would never get to lift this up,'' David joked. “How good is this.''

Before long, the Wests Tigers players finished their defensive training and made their way over to meet David and Jenni. It was like winning the jackpot for David. As he spoke to the boys one by one, David's eyes lit up again when his favourite player in captain Brett Hodgson shook hands with him. “Brett is a real genuine guy. I have always wanted to meet him and I got close to him at Campbelltown Stadium the day after we won the grand final,'' David said. “But to be able to spend time with him like this is just terrific. He is a great bloke.''

Overwhelmed by it all, David and Jenni said they were grateful for the opportunity of meeting the players from their favourite rugby league team. “The boys are all very down to earth. They are good blokes who really were sincere and it was just great to be able to talk to them all,'' David said. “To come here and to meet the players that I watch on television is unbelievable. I will never forget this, or what the West's Tigers have done for me.''

Star Track Express has established a trust account for public donations. They can be made to the Star Track Express 'David McArdle Trust Account' at any National Australia Bank.