When Fletcher Crowley broke his again in a biking accident three years in the past, docs recognized him as paraplegic and told him he would never walk once more.
But over the previous three months, the Australian and his buddy, Lachie Bennett, have summited mountains, crossed snowy peaks and brought adrenaline-filled adventures in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
Demonstrating how friendship and a “Say yes” mindset can open the world, they’ve discovered methods to expertise landmarks which can be sometimes inaccessible to wheelchair customers, from driving piggyback up the 268 steps that result in Hong Kong’s Big Buddha, to hitching a journey up the snowy Swiss Dolomites and cruising as an e-bike–wheelchair tandem alongside the French Riviera.
“Our plan was just to show us, and the chair is tagging along,” Crowley told NCS throughout their ultimate days in South Africa, as they drove by a mountain go en path to a paragliding expertise.
“Most of the stuff we do would not be under the general term of ‘accessible’ — we’ve definitely pushed that. Some things have to be done a bit differently and we have to work a little harder for them, but they are so much more rewarding.”
In May, household and pals welcomed the pair dwelling to Sydney, Australia, after their action-packed journey by 10 international locations, which they shared with their neighborhood of 140,000 followers on their Instagram channel ‘twomates1chair.’
Following the mountain bike accident in September 2023, Crowley spent six months recovering within the hospital, following an intensive rehabilitation program.
“I had been building a jump to do a double back flip,” he mentioned. “I did it about six times and landed it, falling onto my side. Then, on the seventh try, I landed on my neck.”
During his rehabilitation, Crowley reconnected with faculty buddy Bennett, who labored at a spinal wire harm help and lodge facility in Sydney’s northern seashores space. Crowley was going there for physiotherapy coaching, and their shared curiosity in journey introduced them nearer as pals.
Until then, they’d every been touring overseas on their very own and had simply executed a few home journeys collectively. Last 12 months, Bennett traveled solo by the United States and Mexico, and Crowley — who pivoted to adaptive snowboarding after his accident — spent the winter working in Australia’s Perisher ski resort earlier than hitting the slopes in Japan.
Then a plan for his or her first joint trip took form, initially for 2 weeks in South America.
But a deal on the Flight Centre journey company tempted them to purchase a multi-stop ticket, permitting them to go to 4 continents for a similar worth — $2,800 AUD ($1,480 USD) every.
“We just jumped on it,” Bennett mentioned. “Europe and Hong Kong hadn’t really crossed our minds, but suddenly we were going.”
Rather than proscribing themselves to accessible lodging and actions, the buddies prioritized the experiences they needed with the mindset “we can make this work,” Crowley mentioned.
Starting in Hong Kong, Bennett gave Crowley a piggyback journey as much as the Big Buddha, an unlimited bronze statue set among the many mountains, in an endeavor they jokingly referred to as “two mates, no chair and 12 flights of steps.”
In one video on Instagram, Bennett stretches his legs earlier than carrying Crowley — weighing 170 kilos plus 30 kilos of digital camera gear — on his again for the 30-minute climb from high to backside, over moist, slippery floor.
“Nothing is impossible,” Bennett says within the clip, moments after their feat.
While within the metropolis, in addition they hiked to the highest of Victoria Peak, a 1,180-foot ascent almost as excessive because the Empire State Building’s roof, for sweeping views of the skyline.
“A local told us about this accessible hike and it was, in that it was paved. But holy smokes, that was a steep push,” Bennett told NCS.
“Fletch’s arms were dead, my calves were burning, but it was insane and totally worth it.”
Crowley’s higher physique power, youth and background in skating helped make his chair really feel “natural and comfy,” which he mentioned may have a massive impression on a particular person’s mobility.
The pals acknowledged that a trip like theirs won’t be possible for all wheelchair customers, because it relies upon on elements resembling bodily potential, help techniques and having a chair suited to particular person wants.
Sun, snow and sheep in Europe
After 5 days “full of high energy and high vibes” in Hong Kong, Bennett and Crowley flew to Italy to kick-start their highway trip throughout Europe.
They touched down in Milan simply because the 2026 Winter Paralympics bought underway and piggybacked their manner into the stands to look at the sit-ski occasion.
“It just happened to line up with our trip, and it’s such an awesome community,” mentioned Crowley, who had educated with the Australian workforce the earlier 12 months.
From Milan, they embarked on a highway trip by Pisa, Florence, Rome and Venice, the place they explored the “floating city” by gondola.
When an Italian in the Dolomites invited them to “jump in” his snowmobile, the pair eagerly mentioned sure, leaving Crowley’s wheelchair behind as Bennett supported him by the snow — able to go wherever the journey may lead.
“We had no clue where we’d end up,” Crowley mentioned. “Next thing we knew, we were at the top of the Dolomites, looking out over an insane view of rolling mountains.”
Crowley’s spinal wire harm left him an incomplete paraplegic, that means his mind nonetheless sends some alerts to his decrease physique.
“I can walk 10 meters, but then I’ll be absolutely wrecked,” he mentioned.
At dwelling in Sydney, he leads an impartial life and is a sports activities fanatic, having fun with sit-skiing, sit-skateboarding, adaptive mountain biking and browsing.
“I can live an epic life completely by myself, but to do the stuff I want to do, I sometimes need Lachie’s help or another hand on,” he mentioned.
After driving over the border into Switzerland, a native household welcomed Crowley and Bennett into their dwelling when their 10-year-old son noticed the duo’s Hong Kong adventures on social media.
Soon, the pair had been becoming a member of faculty runs, cheering at a neighborhood ice hockey sport and sharing tales over home-cooked meals with their new Swiss hosts, who helped them navigate their snowy environment.
“We never thought as two young Australians that we would get offered to stay with the nicest Swiss family ever — and then it kept happening,” Bennett mentioned.
“Of course, you have to use your judgment and stay safe, but the generosity from strangers has been overwhelming.”
Their subsequent invitation took them inland from the French surf town of Biarritz to a sheep farm run by Paddy, a fellow Australian who had relocated to France to begin a new life.
Helping out with the sheep was “one of the most unexpected and memorable” stops.
Crowley connected a entrance off-road wheel to his chair, making it simpler for Bennett to push him throughout the hay within the barn.
“I was stationary a lot of the time because as soon as I moved, the sheep would freak out,” Crowley mentioned. “Some animals see the chair and run away as fast as they can, if it’s not their norm.”
Also in Europe, the pair hopped on a flight to the Netherlands to discover Amsterdam’s well-known canals.
Here, their transport of alternative was a rented cargo bike — or a “bakfiets,” to locals — with Bennett pedaling and Crowley driving within the wood field connected between the handlebars and entrance wheels.
After exploring northern Spain with Crowley’s mother and father, the pair set off on their very own once more to complete their European tour on the French Riviera.
On Nice’s stylish promenade, they perfected a speedy journey hack – Crowley in his wheelchair holding onto Bennett as he zipped alongside on an e-bike.
“Fletch would hold my pocket and tailgate,” Bennett mentioned.
Their alternative of lodgings added one other layer of journey, such because the night time they stayed in a Tenth-century chapel with a pool, perched atop a hill with 1,000 steps.
To get them there, the chapel proprietor drove up in his Land Cruiser, with Crowley hitching a journey by holding onto the again from his personal set of wheels. Once on the base, Bennett and Crowley piggybacked up the lengthy, winding staircase to the entrance door.
“It was not accessible at all, but that was never gonna stop us,” Crowley mentioned.
“There were stairs all throughout this place, but with Lachie piggybacking me, and me scooting up on my bum, we made it.”
Minor hardships did come up, notably when the pair had been drained and Bennett discovered himself managing heavy baggage, medical baggage and Crowley’s chair — usually after a piggyback journey.
But Bennett mentioned “it’s always worth it,” noting that when fatigue set in, they merely took the simpler route.
The solely time they felt held again was on the occasional raised shopfront, the place Bennett ran in for snacks whereas Crowley waited exterior.
“I get more annoyed by it than Fletch, who is very resilient. It’s taught me a lot about traveling,” Bennett mentioned.
And there have been benefits too, resembling accessible parking and Crowley’s chair doubling as a “24/7 trunk” offering helpful cupboard space beneath his seat.
Stairs didn’t cease the buddies in Brazil, the place they loved rooftop events in São Paulo and explored caves in Belo Horizonte.
Crowley, travelling piggyback, guided Bennett by hanging rock formations, each sporting exhausting hats.
One of their largest setbacks got here throughout their time within the distant countryside, once they set off with drivers in off-road buggies alongside a dust monitor and Crowley’s car crashed after clipping a bump within the highway.
The pair had been “stranded in the middle of the Brazilian bush for six hours” ready for the car to be towed out, with no reception, no water and Crowley’s chair left 60 miles away at their lodging.
“It (the buggy) hit its back tire and tumbled two complete rolls into this tree,” Bennett mentioned. “My heart just dropped but, thankfully, everyone was okay.”
Next, the pair made an epic 18-hour, single-day drive to achieve the island of Florianópolis.
There, they embraced the pared-back hostel tradition by the seaside, as soon as once more prioritizing expertise over accessibility.
After navigating Europe’s labyrinths of slim streets and limitless staircases, tackling the sand was a breeze when the buddies went for a dip, or on the hunt for native meals.
Crowley and Bennett’s ultimate cease was South Africa, the place they spent 5 nights in Cape Town, visiting townships, watching penguins at Boulders Beach, paragliding and road-tripping alongside the Garden Route.
Highlights included shark-cage diving in Gansbaai, the place they took a boat into the Atlantic, donned wetsuits –– Bennett serving to Crowley go well with up –– and lowered themselves into a cage as sharks passed by.
They additionally loved their first safari at Amakhala Game Reserve, on the lookout for lions, leopards, giraffes and each black and white rhinos. Crowley boarded the safari car independently, one in every of few adaptive options on this a part of the trip.
“Hearing a lion roaring over the valley was an insane moment,” he added.
Another memorable second was their ultimate piggyback journey to Cape Point, the dramatic tip of the African continent perched 200 meters above the crashing ocean.
The pals, each help employees, described their trip as a lot smoother than anticipated, with no main points like accidents, sickness or theft.
Still, they confronted some setbacks like surprising baggage charges in South Africa when two airways charged further for Crowley’s medical baggage, which had been normally checked in totally free.
Their piggyback rides additionally attracted consideration, with some onlookers assuming they had been joking round slightly than utilizing a sensible methodology to climb stairs.
“On a climb in South Africa, I got to the top and this lady asked ‘Are you guys playing games?’ and I said ‘No, I can’t walk.’” Crowley mentioned.
During nights out, Crowley generally discovered it troublesome to be heard as a chair person at waist peak. On different events, individuals would handle Bennett as a “middleman” as a substitute of talking to Crowley instantly, maybe assuming he was Crowley’s help employee, he mentioned.
The pair’s social media presence drew occasional criticism about security, like when Crowley rode an escalator in his chair, secured by holding the handrail.
Meanwhile, bumpy footpaths and hills had been generally riskier, with Crowley as soon as falling from his chair on a ramp in Brazil.
Despite this, the buddies remained targeted on the positives all through their trip.
Their journey challenges the definition of accessibility, with Bennett asking “is it the ramp, is it the person or something else?”
“You can make the world a lot more accessible with the help of people,” Crowley mentioned. “And I wouldn’t be close to making this possible without Lachie.”
But in keeping with Bennett, everybody wants a serving to hand at occasions.
“When I was traveling solo, I needed support to meet new people and do an adventure with,” he mentioned.
“Whether in a chair, not in a chair, everybody needs support in their own way.”