Jetty 2 Jetty: ‘It ticks the good-feeling box’

Jaymes Redsell is lucky to be alive and walking around on two legs after an horrific workplace accident 15 years ago.

The Warner resident is using the same positive energy that pulled him through the tough times to prepare for the Moreton Daily 10km race in this year’s Jetty 2 Jetty Fun Run on July 16.

It follows a near-fatal workplace accident in 2007 which resulted in one of his legs being caught, crushed and twisted in concreting machinery.

His injuries were so severe he almost ‘bled-out’ at the scene and had to be airlifted to hospital for emergency surgery.

He endured 14 surgeries initially (many more since then) and was told on numerous occasions he would likely lose his leg. Muscle flap transplants with skin grafts rebuilt and saved it.

Jaymes is unable to move his foot and says, at some stage, it may need to be amputated.

“They said as I get older, I’ll probably want to take the foot off and be an amputee of some degree because of the structure and what’s going on there with arthritis kicking in,” he says.

“It’s been a journey, that’s for sure.”

For him though, making the decision to remain positive and grateful to still be alive has shaped the person he is today and his decision to take on the 10km course.

“It’s my new normal. I think that’s the main thing. Any limitation in the leg and the pain … it hurts all the time. It’s my new normal,” Jaymes explains.

“I have to make it that and not be upset about it or angry at the world for it.

“I could have days when it gets me … it’s really slow to get moving in the morning, just with the foot drop. A lot of the ligaments are missing. The pain and that … I just learn how to manage it.”

Training for Jetty 2 Jetty

Jaymes says the decision to take part in this year’s Jetty 2 Jetty came easily after his wife Melissa’s charity A Brave Life was named the event’s charity partner.

“It’s definitely for both causes, myself and my own journey, and what Melissa’s done and what she’s trying to do for all these young mums,” he explains.

“Signing up initially was just a silly idea … but I’m just going to get personal satisfaction out of finishing it. It will be great, this far out from the incident, being 15 years down the track.

|“It’s just another fist-pump, you know. I made the right choice in choosing to power on and accept what has happened.|

“I’m not an elite athlete. It’s not about all that, it ticks the good feeling box. I think that’s the main thing.”

He is also hoping his run may inspire someone else.

“Just someone who’s gone through something similar. Seeing me run, as funny as it might look, might inspire them to choose the right path and be positive about it and not be caught up in the woe-is-me, or this shouldn’t have happened to me. Stay positive and find the good stuff in it,” Jaymes says.

Training for his big run is in full swing as he hits the treadmill and tries to eat well.

“I’ll definitely finish it. I just don’t know if it’s going to be a world record time,” he says laughing.

“It won’t be a PB. That’s for sure.

“I’m going to try to do at least three or four kilometres at a good pace, maybe have a bit of a walk in the middle and then run the balance. We’ll see how that goes.”

About Jetty 2 Jetty

The 2023 event will be held on Sunday, July 16 at Pelican Park, Clontarf.

Jetty 2 Jetty has races to suit all ages and abilities – serious runners and those just looking for a fun walk or job along the Redcliffe foreshore. Distances on offer include the Kindred Half Marathon, Moreton Daily Wheelchair 10km, Moreton Daily 10km, Planet Fitness 5km and Ausbuild 3km.

For more information and to register, head to the website