A beloved Australian tennis coach is fighting for life in an induced coma after a serious scooter crash in the Seychelles.
Father-of-three Tim Horpinitch, 53, was riding a scooter when it collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction at the Beau Belle junction about 9pm last Tuesday.
He was rushed to the intensive care unit at the Seychelles Hospital in a critical condition.
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One week on, Horpinitch remains in the ICU with life-threatening injuries, including broken ribs and punctured lungs, according to his sister, Christine Kalantzakos.
He remains on a ventilator as doctors wait for him to emerge from the coma and for his chest injuries to begin healing before further treatment could begin.
“It’s a very, very difficult time because this is his livelihood,” Kalantzakos told 7NEWS.com.au.
“Him being active is his whole life.”
Horpinitch moved to the Seychelles after being offered a position as the country’s national tennis coach. Credit: Supplied
Kalantzakos described her brother as an active and outgoing “typical Aussie bloke” with a wicked sense of humour and an enduring love of sport.
“Tennis has been his living and it’s his profession as a tennis coach,” she said.
“He loves his cricket. Loves, eats, breathes, lives cricket.”
She said the devoted Carlton supporter also tried to watch his team play every week despite living thousands of kilometres from home.
Horpinitch’s sporting achievements began early, with his talent earning him a tennis scholarship in the United States.
According to his website, he competed on the European circuit, represented a US collegiate team, secured 16 Australian national titles and became Australia’s fourth-ranked junior player.
He later became the top-ranked player in the Seychelles.
Horpinitch moved from Melbourne to the Seychelles about 25 years ago after being offered a position as the country’s national tennis coach.
He also worked as a physical education teacher before becoming a self-employed tennis coach.
Horpinitch works as a tennis coach. Credit: Facebook
In October 2024, Horpinitch captained the Seychelles at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Africa Qualifier B — an extraordinary achievement at the age of 52.
“He says he gets better with age, like a fine wine,” Kalantzakos said.
Horpinitch has three children — a 20-year-old daughter and two sons aged nine and four — who live in the Seychelles.
“He is a great dad — loves his kids. His kids are his whole entire world. He would do anything for them,” Kalantzakos said.
Kalantzakos’s husband, Arthur Kalantzakos, said Horpinitch briefly regained consciousness during his hospital stay and immediately asked about his children.
“He’s had to write that down because he’s on the ventilator. So he’s just written down, are the kids okay?” Arthur said.
His children and a large network of friends are supporting him in the Seychelles, but his Australian family has found it difficult being so far away.
“It’s difficult because it’s a waiting game … we can’t be certain that he’ll get out of the coma,” he said.
“And it’s difficult being in Australia, obviously. We can’t see him.
“We just gotta wait for him to recover. That’s what we’re hopeful for.”
At 52, Horpinitch captained the Seychelles at an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier. Credit: Supplied
Kalantzakos has launched a GoFundMe to help cover the enormous costs associated with her brother’s hospital treatment, surgeries and rehabilitation.
“As an Australian citizen living in the Seychelles, Tim does not have medical insurance that will cover the enormous costs associated with his treatment, surgeries, hospital care, recovery and rehabilitation,” she wrote.
“This has placed an immense financial burden on Tim and his family at an already incredibly distressing time.
“We are asking for your help to ease some of that burden and ensure Tim can access the best possible medical care and rehabilitation as he begins the long journey towards recovery.
“Every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a meaningful difference and will go directly towards Tim’s medical treatment, recovery and future rehabilitation expenses.”
ZilAce Tennis Club, where Horpinitch is the devoted head coach, has also rallied behind him.
“This heartbreaking event has shaken our close-knit community to its core,” the club said.
“Yet, in the face of this devastation, we are reminded of the very values Coach Tim has instilled in us all — resilience, unity, and unwavering strength.
“We are immediately mobilising every resource within our network to ensure that Tim and Harley have the medical, emotional, and practical support they need during this critical fight for recovery.”
ZilAce Tennis Club, where Horpinitch is the devoted head coach, has also rallied behind him. Credit: Facebook
The club also shared a touching message directly to Horpinitch.
“You have given your heart, sweat, and soul to nurturing our children on these courts. Now, it is our turn to carry you. You are not alone. We are bearing this weight with you, every step of the way,” the statement read.
Kalantzakos said her family had been overwhelmed by the response from sporting communities in the Seychelles and Australia.
“I really just want to say that I am overwhelmed with and so appreciative of the amount of support that we’ve had, from everyone in the Seychelles and in Australia,” she said.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping Tim through this incredibly challenging time and giving him the best possible chance at recovery.”
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