Chris Vitnell became an instant frontrunner after his show-stopping audition on Australia’s Got Talent. The talented physical comedian wowed the judges and audience with his unique dance-comedy routine, which showcased his masterful body movement skills.
It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago, Chris was bedridden and unable to move at all.
WATCH: Chris Vitnell hilarious performance on Australia’s Got Talent
Speaking to New Idea, Chris revealed that a horrific motorbike accident robbed him of his ability to move – let alone dance – for an entire year.
“I had injuries to my back, a broken leg, knee breaks, cartilage and ligament damage, all my front teeth smashed out and lots of deep bruising to my body,” Chris, 34, reveals.
“I had a long physical recovery road. Getting back to walking took me about four months and to move properly again took almost a year.
“I wasn’t able to dance for a long time due to the injuries – and it still continues to affect me to this day.”
In a bizarre coincidence, the accident occurred just days after Chris’ first stint on Australia’s Got Talent.
In 2008, Chris was a member of the Shift-1 dance crew. Their high energy routines qualified them for the AGT grand final, although they were ultimately beaten out by guitarist Joe Robinson.
Despite the outcome, Chris and his crew members planned to celebrate their success when they returned to their Brisbane hometown.
However, a cruel twist of fate changed the course of Chris’ life.
“It was just three days after the grand final when a car ran over me while I was riding my motorbike,” Chris recalls.
The physical injuries were extensive, but so too were the mental scars.
“The accident left me very broken, not only physically but mentally,” Chris admits.
“It was without a doubt the worst moment and time of my entire life.”
Chris endured a long and painful rehabilitation process and says he’s indebted to his wife, Gretel, for helping him out the other side.
“Gretel was always reassuring me that I would get better and encouraging me to stay positive.”
Chris was determined to return to the stage – but being physically restricted also made him re-evaluate his performance skills.
“While I was recovering and unable to dance, I learnt to mix music and create concepts and performance routines, adding in elements of comedy.”
When his body had healed, Chris set about combining his new mixing skills with his dance technique and comedy.
And it all came full circle when Chris returned to the AGT stage. “As terrible as the accident was, I like to think of it as a positive, as I don’t believe I would be performing comedy today if I wasn’t forced to stop dancing,” Chris explains.
Watch more of ‘Australia’s Got Talent’ on Channel Seven.
For more, see this week’s New Idea – out soon!
