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Interview with Warren Macdonald
Warren Macdonald’s life changed when he was on a trip to Hinchinbrook Island, off the northeast coast of Australia. He got trapped under a one-ton boulder. The result was as Warren describes it; A test of will. After two days Warren was rescued but he lost both his legs which were amputated above the knee.
Adjusting to his new life Warren has since gone on to do amazing things such as climbing Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain using a modified wheelchair and the seat of his pants. In 2003, he became the first double above-knee amputee to reach the summit of Africa’s tallest peak, Mt Kilimanjaro (19,222ft). More recently, in a spectacular effort requiring 2800 pull-ups over 3 days, made an ascent of America’s tallest cliff face, El Capitan.
I was lucky enough to interview Warren and to ask questions about his perception on life and his accident.
Immediately after the boulder feel on top of me; all I could think about was getting it off of me. Nothing else; just “I need this thing off me NOW!” Soon afterwards my thoughts turned to strategy: How can we lift this? What tools do we have? How can we let someone know what’s happened to help us?
2. You say you wouldn’t have changed what happened to you, can you expand on this in terms of how your perception of life has changed because of this.
My life has become bigger; fuller. I see more possibility in things than i ever did before, and I was fairly good at spotting possibilities back then. I feel I’ve become a better person. I’ve developed a stronger sense of life being what we make of it. I had that sense before, but to nowhere near this level, so no; if I had the chance now I definitely couldn’t go back…
3. Just ten months after the accident you went on to climb Cradle mountain. What was the driving force behind that idea?
To see if it was possible. To show the world I wasn’t done; that I refused to become the commonly conceived “disabled person”. Interestingly enough; I held that perception also; I’d never known anyone who used a wheelchair or who had any kind of “visible” disability. On top of that, the outdoors was such a huge part of my life. I just couldn’t fathom not being able to have those wilderness experiences again, and I knew that if there was ANY way to keep having them; I had to find it.
4. In 2003 you went on to achieve a world’s first and become the first double above-knee amputee to climb Mount Kilimanajaro. What did you learn from doing this?
I learnt perseverance. It took three years to raise the money and get everything in place for that climb. I also learnt about commitment. In the end, I didn’t have anywhere near enough sponsorship to cover the costs involved. Twice I had to bail; calling up the guys (my support crew) just months before we were scheduled to leave for Africa. In the end, spurred on by one woman’s personal investment; I bit the bullet; set the credit cards alight (ie maxed them out) and went for it. Best decision I ever made.
5. How far do you think human will and desire can go?
As far as we want them to go. We are where we are at because we think that’s where we believe we belong. As a species we have a ton of work to do; starting with reclaiming our own hopes and dreams. We’ve been hijacked in many ways and brainwashed into believing we can’t be happy unless where thin, unless we wear the right clothes, own the right house etc. It’s bollocks,and the sooner we wake up to it, the better off we’ll be. Then we’ll get to see how far will and desire can take us, because we’ll own it.
6. You often talk about perception in your talks and how important it is. How do you think people can start to change their perception on life for the better?
Like many things, even a small step is significant; especially if it signifies a change in direction. So start with something manageable. Do something different. But a different newspaper than the one you usually buy; or better yet; go without news for a few days. See how that affects the conversations you have with people; where you’re not simply regurgitating something you read; something everyone who reads the same paper read…
7. What advice would you give to anyone going through something similar?
A similar accident you mean; a traumatic experience? Hang in there. And this goes for any kind of change really; from losing your leg to losing a job. Hang in there. Better yet, build up some resilience BEFORE something bad happens, because the odds are stacked in favour of at some point; something bad is going to happen to you. Stay in shape. If you’re not in shape; get in shape. Times of change, and we’re in one right now, favour those that have the odds in their favour. Do a course; learn a new skill. Connect with people in your community so they have a sense of what you bring to the table. There’s so much we can do really; the last thing we need to be doing is sitting in front of the TV complaining about whats going and waiting for the axe for fall. DO SOMETHING; ANYTHING!
Warren has written a book about his life changing experience called A test of will.
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