Freefall: The Luckiest Man Alive
By (Author) Brad Guy
Longueville Media
Longueville Media
7th June 2023
Australia
Non Fiction
Biography: philosophy and social sciences
Biography: adventurers and explorers
True stories: general
True stories of heroism, endurance and survival
True stories of survival of abuse and injustice
Paperback
106
Width 148mm, Height 210mm
At the age of 22, Brad, a notoriously outgoing and gregarious person, was celebrating a belated birthday present; a thrill-seeking tandem skydive. In what can only be described as a freak accident, Brad and his instructors parachute failed to open properly. Not once but twice. The reserve chute got tangled in the first. With both parachutes failing, they circled furiously in the air like two rag dolls in a treacherous vortex, plunging 14,000 feet to the ground at 80kmph.
What are the odds of surviving a freefall from a plane 14,000 feet in the air That is the equivalent of free falling from half of Everest.
Well, they did survive, only just, but not without trauma and injury. Both physical and mental. A broken spine and torn neck were Brads physical scars; severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were his unseen scars.
Brad went from a fun-loving, carefree young man to an introverted recluse, silently battling the dark throes of physical pain and deep emotional scarring.
With large doses of family love and intense personal counselling, Brad slowly fought back to reclaim a new life. A life that wasnt like the old one, for that had died in the accident, but nevertheless a new life with a new perspective.
Freefall tells Brads story and is for anyone changed by unforeseen and catastrophicevents or their friends and families. It is a powerful picture of what is often referred to as post-traumatic growth. We may be broken, but we can put ourselves back together in beautiful, new ways.
Brad Guy's book is a testament to the healing power of human connection and the resilience of the human soul. It is a beacon of hope for those who have suffered trauma because it shows us that although the road back to life may be rocky, it is nonetheless there. Sophia Parnas, Clinical Psychologist, Sydney
Brad doesnt just have an amazing story of survival, he is a dynamic and authentic public speaker who fiercely advocates for mental health awareness. He speaks to groups from all different walks of life on the topics of: re-entering life after trauma, self-acceptance through to self-expression, LGBTQ identity in a modern world and thoughtful communication. He is an educator on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and rehabilitation, with a passion for showing others how they too can achieve their dreams. Brad is a former radio presenter, having hosted the Brad & Mandy breakfast show for Triple M in Gippsland. His media career has seen him host and MC events across the country, including interviewing stars on the Logies red carpet, to hosting events for campaigns like Movember. Brad has also worked with organisations like Relay for Life, Optus, Disability Sport and Recreation and Give Me 5. Brads story has also reached the global masses, with appearances on William Shatners The UnXplained (History Channel, Netflix) and Bear Grylls Survival Stories podcast on Amazon, among many more. Personally, Brad is a fashion lover, dancing queen and Eurovision tragic.