Cop’s miracle after horror waterfall accident

A Queensland police officer has overcome more than a year of recovery to return to work after a horrific accident.

Senior Constable Mark Barclay was left fighting for his life after the ground near a waterfall gave way while he was on a holiday with family in Tasmania.

The incident in December 2021 resulted in him falling a “significant distance” onto rocks and water below.

Constable Barclay was lucky to survive the fall but suffered significant and “horrific” injuries.

The husband and father of two was placed into a coma for three weeks and suffered fractured legs, significant facial fractures which required reconstructive surgery as well as swelling on the brain which went on to cause further complications.

Kept in a Tasmanian hospital for seven weeks, Constable Barclay was flown back to Queensland where he was able to undergo specialist treatment at Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Senior Constable Barclay had many people to thank for his miraculous recovery.

“I am extremely lucky to have a great family around me for support,” Senior Constable Barclay said.

But in addition to this support, the generosity, encouragement and assistance from all my colleagues has enabled me to stay positive, motivated and continue pushing to this day, where I can get back out on the road and look forward to coming to work each day; not only to support my community and give back where they have helped me, but to also be side-by-side with my colleagues again.”

Queensland Police rallied around him, staging a 24-hour swim-a-thon to raise money for Mark and his family in February 2022.

“Thank you for everything everybody did for me through this extremely difficult time in my life. I am ecstatic about and am looking forward to the future,” he said.

The police force described Constable Barclay as an “amazing, generous and positive person”.

“Mark is a truly inspirational individual,” Sunshine Coast Superintendent Craig Hawkins said.

“I would also like to thank everyone involved in the fundraising and support offered to Mark and his family. particularly the Sunshine Coast District Tactical Crime Squad team which rallied and drove this support.”