Williamstown former world champion boxer Barry Michael was flown to hospital last week after becoming injured on the Kokoda Trail.
Michael, 62, had left Australia for Papua New Guinea on March 18 to trace the footsteps of Australia’s soldiers in World War II.
On day seven, after trekking more than 100 kilometres, there was a downpour as his group was descending a mountain around Nauro.
Michael tripped on tree roots across the slippery track and landed on his right side with the full weight of his body. About 18 months earlier, he had cracked three ribs on that side.
“I just screamed, a big scream of pain – ‘I’ve busted my ribs’ – because I knew I had,” Michael said.
He managed to walk another two hours “in a lot of pain” before being flown by helicopter to Moresby hospital. Michael arrived home on Wednesday.
English-born Michael said the experience had been “life changing” and made him realise even more the sacrifice made by Australian and Allied troops.
“I got so emotional so many times at different spots where there’s been major battles,” he said.
“Our soldiers didn’t have food, were out there for friggin’ weeks and weeks fighting a mostly-unseen enemy.
“Just to realise what our men went through … it’s hell in that jungle.”
Michael had been trekking with a company run by Commonwealth boxing champion Mick O’Malley, who described it as a freak fall.
“It’s just unfortunate, there was a lot of rain and he just put his foot in the wrong spot,” O’Malley said.
