Caysie climbs to beat fear
Dangerous trees: Mike Coulter has taught Caysie Clark that proper abseiling equipment is a must when coming down a big tree.
CAYSIE Clark has overcome her fear of heights after falling from a tree in March.
The brave Leongatha girl abseiled down a 13 metre high tree at Cheltenham Primary School.
After fracturing her skull and spine, suffering a collapsed lung, torn ligaments in her neck and broken toes and fingers, Caysie confronted her fear head on and had the best time while doing so.
“She wanted to do it again straight away. She was very excited,” mum Kathy said.
Mike Coulter, the man who approached Caysie’s mother Kathy after reading her story in the Herald Sun earlier this year, is the person to thank for helping Caysie overcome her fears.
He wanted to do something to give a positive aspect to the situation and give her something fun to think about rather than horrendous and painful.
“It was amazing. We can’t thank Mike enough,” Kathy said.
“He organised everything. He got in touch with Cheltenham Primary School and found a tree to abseil down.”
Cheltenham Primary School got right behind Caysie. Students chanted her name as she went up in the cherry picker and counted down as she was about to jump.
“For students who had never met Caysie before, they were incredibly supportive,” Kathy said.
Before going to the school, Caysie attended a training session at the Cheltenham Trees Depot to learn how to use a harness and maintain a safe distance from the tree.
Even though it was pouring rain Caysie loved the experience.
Caysie tandem abseiled down the tree with Mike.
Caysie and her mother Kathy would like to thank her friends, Cheltenham Primary School and Cheltenham Trees Depot for all their amazing support.
“It has been fantastic. We never expected this much support,” Kathy said.
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