An 18-year-old apprentice mechanic is facing a lifetime of profound change after a catastrophic workplace accident at a Perth car repair workshop left him with devastating injuries that doctors now say are beyond further surgical repair. Chaz Gordon, who had dreamed since childhood of becoming a qualified mechanic, was working under a heavy vehicle lift on January 5 when the equipment failed catastrophically, crushing his lower body and causing irreversible spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, and severe internal injuries.

Chaz was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to stabilize his spine and control life-threatening bleeding. For the past nine days he has remained in the intensive care unit, heavily sedated and on a ventilator while specialists fought to save his life. This morning, his medical team delivered the devastating update his family had feared most: “We’re so sorry… there’s nothing more we can do surgically to restore function below the level of injury.”

The accident resulted in a complete T10 spinal cord transection — meaning Chaz has no feeling or voluntary movement from the mid-thoracic level downward. Doctors confirmed he is now paraplegic with a very low likelihood of regaining any significant leg function, even with future experimental treatments or stem-cell therapies. He will require lifelong care, including mobility aids, bladder and bowel management, and ongoing physiotherapy to prevent complications such as pressure sores, muscle atrophy, and chronic pain.

Chaz’s mother, Lisa Gordon, spoke briefly outside the hospital, her voice breaking as she thanked the medical staff and the wider community for their support. “He was so excited to finish his apprenticeship. He loved cars, loved fixing things, loved the idea of being independent and helping people. That dream was taken from him in seconds. But he’s still here, he’s still fighting, and we’re going to fight with him.”

The accident has triggered an immediate WorkSafe Western Australia investigation, with WorkSafe inspectors on site within hours. Preliminary findings suggest the vehicle lift may have been improperly maintained or overloaded, though the workshop owner has strongly denied any wrongdoing and is cooperating fully. Unions have called for a broader review of safety standards in small mechanical workshops, where young apprentices often work with heavy machinery without adequate supervision or fail-safes.

Chaz had left school at 16 to pursue his Certificate III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology, a path he chose because he wanted to support his single mother and younger siblings. Colleagues at the workshop described him as “keen, polite, always the first to arrive and the last to leave.” The company has established a fundraising page for Chaz’s long-term care, rehabilitation equipment, home modifications, and lost future earnings — a campaign that has already raised more than A$180,000 in less than a week, with donations coming from across Australia and even overseas.

The broader community has rallied around the young man and his family. Local car clubs have pledged to provide adapted vehicles when Chaz is ready, mechanics from across Perth have offered to teach him diagnostic software and other skills he can still perform from a seated position, and several high-profile Perth identities have publicly backed the fundraising effort.

For Chaz Gordon, the road ahead is long and uncertain. He faces years of rehabilitation, psychological support, and adaptation to a new reality far from the one he envisioned as a teenage apprentice. Yet in the midst of heartbreak, his family says his spirit remains unbroken. “He’s already asking when he can get back to the workshop — even if it’s just to watch and give advice,” his mother said. “That’s Chaz. He never gives up.”

As WorkSafe continues its investigation and the community rallies, Chaz’s story has become a painful reminder of the real risks young apprentices face every day — and a testament to the resilience of a young man determined to keep moving forward, no matter what.