Tasmanian grandfather left a quadriplegic after horrific cycling crash

A much‑loved Tasmanian teacher and grandfather is fighting to return to his house after a catastrophic cycling accident left him dependent on a ventilator and a quadriplegic.

Warren McDonough, 70, was riding down his local street in Launceston on February 5 when his front wheel struck a pothole and sent him crashing onto the road.

He suffered a broken neck and a spinal cord injury leaving him a quadriplegic and requiring 24/7 care.

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McDonough has spent the past six months in hospitals across Hobart and Melbourne, entirely reliant on a ventilator to breathe.

His wife, Debbie, said the injury had “changed everything” for their family and that Warren is unable to come home until it is accessible with an “astronomical level” of support.

“Warren has lost all movement in his limbs. His deepest wish is simply to come home,” she told 7NEWS.com.au.

Warren was an extremely active father and grandfather before the incident. Credit: Gofundme

For more than four decades, McDonough worked in physical education across the Launceston, teaching generations of students and organising weekend sport and carnivals through the Northern High School Sports Association.

He also coached and managed school sporting teams and was known for campaigning for public education about sepsis in Tasmania. .

McDonough’s family says his life revolves around his grandchildren — Otis, 7, Iris, 5, and Fern, 3.

Before the accident, he spent his days walking with them to collect eggs from the chooks, checking the mail, taking them to swimming lessons and helping with childcare while his daughter worked.

McDonough even built a home for his daughter and her children on the same block so they could remain close.

“His grandchildren are his world,” Debbie said. “He just wants to be home with them.”

Despite his complex needs, Debbie said McDonough does not qualify for support under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) due to strict age limits.

Instead, he must rely on the Aged Care system, which his family says cannot provide the level of funding required for 24/7 spinal care and mechanical ventilation.

To bring him home safely, they need to fund home modifications, specialised equipment, an accessible vehicle and ongoing complex nursing care.

“The financial burden is overwhelming,” Debbie said. “We need to create a safe environment for Warren to live at home, but the costs are astronomical.”

A fundraiser has been launched to help cover the first stage of equipment and home changes.

The family says every dollar will go directly toward his care, with further updates to come as the full scope of costs becomes clearer.