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Australian Story: Mar 27

ABC profiles the bond between surfing champ Tyler Wright and her brother Owen, overcoming his serious brain injury.

Tonight on Australian Story, family members speaks candidly about Tyler Wright’s emotional journey to the top of world surfing, and how she selflessly aided her brother Owen after his serious brain injury.

There are  interviews with world champion surfers Layne Beachley, Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore.

Reigning world surfing champion Tyler Wright was overcome with emotion watching her older brother Owen make his comeback to professional surfing on the Gold Coast last weekend.

“I think I cried for about 15 minutes after it was done. But yeah, big moment. A year can change a lot.” – Tyler Wright

Fifteen months earlier, at just 21, Tyler became her brother’s primary carer after he suffered a serious brain injury while surfing at the treacherous Pipeline in Hawaii.

“You could tell in his eyes. My brother never looks panicked. He’s always been very calm and collected under most situations. In his eyes, his eyes, it was the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.” – Tyler Wright

Now, Owen Wright has made a miraculous return to the World Surfing League Championship Tour, taking out the first event of the year, the Quiksilver Pro, at Queensland’s Snapper Rocks last Sunday.

This same time last year, he was struggling to get to his feet and walk around. Tyler had considered pulling out of the 2016 season to look after him.

“She just totally forgot about herself. Unselfishly, she was just, ‘I’m here for Owen, and that’s it.’ ” – Mick Fanning, three-time surfing world champion.

But Tyler knew her brother wouldn’t want her to give up her dreams of winning a maiden World Title, something she had publicly declared she wanted only two months before her brother’s accident.

“With those two, it’s like a see-saw, and they just keep helping each other, whoever needs it at any one point in time.” – Brooke Farris, Rip Curl Girls Team Manager.

8pm Monday 27 March on ABC.

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