Mike Burns.
Camera IconMike Burns. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Fly by Night hosting benefit gig for Fremantle musician Mike Burns

Leah RobertsFremantle Gazette

FREMANTLE musician Mike Burns’ life changed forever after a hit and run accident last year, but a charity benefit concert this Saturday hopes to raise money for his recovery.

Mr Burns said that on March 16, he was knocked off his scooter by a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road.

“I rolled on the road and was aware of being winded and injured, but not the severity,” he said.

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“I was in a coma for a couple of weeks and my left leg was broken in perhaps 17 places.

“I lost nine teeth from the accident and I almost lost my left leg as a considerable amount of my femur was missing.

“When I regained fuller consciousness I had little control of my hands, which was extremely threatening to me as a musician.”

Recovery has been a long process and Mr Burns said it may take years to reveal the extent of the injuries.

“I have at least two specialist sessions each week, physio, podiatry, hand therapy, pain management specialist,” he said.

“Many injuries are permanent and many are still unknown, my hands are recovering some technique but others still seem years away.

“The journey has been scary but also very revealing, I’ve learned a lot about who my friends are but also how self-reliant I’ve had to become.”

The Spearwood resident moved to Western Australia in 1975 where he played in blues bands.

“Fremantle was my musical centre, in any given week I must be busking, playing blues or rock, rehearsing Gamelan music,” he said.

“Since my catastrophic accident, I am attempting to repair my musical and social life.

Ross McCallum, a board member of The Fly by Night Club, is hosting the benefit concert.

“Mike recently told me that there will be some compensation for his injuries but all of this is taking a long time,” Mr McCallum said.

“Luckily the club had a free night on a Saturday and all the musicians who are playing are volunteering their own time.”

Mr McCallum hopes the concert will raise $2000 for Mr Burns.

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