Will Elrick didn't have the best start to life. His childhood was both unstable and abusive.
"My years growing up were quite challenging. Most of it was I guess with fear, one of alcoholism and violence and stuff."
Elrick says he nearly stabbed his step-father to death when he was seven, and had to look after his mother from about the age of 14, because she had a severe mental illness. He recalls coming home from school not knowing if she was trying to kill herself or not.
In 1997, Elrick was involved in a serious car accident. The then 25-year-old spent six weeks in an induced coma and lost his leg from the hip down due to the gangrene.
In the years after the crash, Elrick found himself in a lot of debt.
He had taken up mountain climbing on a whim because he saw it as a way to “pay back his dues” because of his bad upbringing and accident.
From Machu Piccu to Anconcagua to Everest, Elrick was borrowing thousands of dollars to fund his newfound passion but he was unable to pay it back.
It turns out he was suffering from an acquired brain injury, which had gone undiagnosed for over a decade.
Elrick told Insight he cried when he found out there was a real reason explaining his impulsive behaviour.
"I was confused all the time, and like I'd meet you today and would have a big conversation and tomorrow I wouldn't even know who you were. I was trying to bluff my way."
"Simple little things were really, really difficult. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone. I was too stubborn, too proud and I just kept fumbling my way through. I was confused all the time, and I was just bouncing around the place."
Elrick saw the diagnosis as an opportunity to get help and admit he had an issue and recognise it’s effect on his actions.
“Things happen that cause people to do things. Brain injury can happen and cause people to do things. But I think with all that and with support and stuff, we can eventually come back to the point where, you know, I make the choice to go forward. I made the choice to make my life better. I make the choice not to do the drugs."
For Elrick, his climbing adventures aren't over yet, but he is content with continuing with rehabilitation and doing his best to take responsbility for his actions.
"I’d like to work with the land, climb a few more mountains, and just live a happy, happy life, you know? What I’m passionate about is the land and nature, and and that’s one thing the mountains allows me to do is get into nature and be a part of that, you know, wonderful world! So that’s where I’d like to see myself."
Hear more about Will's story on Insight tonight at 8.30pm AEST on SBS ONE. We ask at what point can you blame your behaviour on upbringing or social disadvantage, culture, disability or genetics and where do you draw the line?
Share
