‘Second chance’ for Dan

‘Second chance’ for Dan

There’s no way Levin man Dan McCown is letting a wheelchair stop him from going to work each day, using what he describes as a second chance at life to start a new venture to provide for his family.

Together with wife Jodie and eldest son Teeghan, they’re the team behind McCown Pumps, a business that plays to each of their strengths. Dan, 39, brings the experience of more than 20 years in the trade and minds the workshop. Jodie takes care of all the administration. Teeghan is on tools and takes care of the call-outs.

McCown Pumps is more than just a business for Dan.

“It keeps my mental health going so I’m not just sitting around wasting away,” he says. “You’ve got to do something otherwise you end up with bad mojo. You’ve got to make money and provide for your family and hopefully give them something to carry on with.”

Dan was left paralysed from the chest down after a three-car collision on State Highway 1 near Ōtaki on January 17, 2017.  He doesn’t remember much about the accident, only that a car failed to give way and he was forced into the path of oncoming traffic.

The roof of his work van caved in on top of him. He couldn’t feel his legs and knew straight away something wasn’t right.

He broke every rib. His lungs had collapsed. His collarbone had snapped in half. He’d lost half an ear and almost lost an eye. Both the T6 and T12 vertebrae in his spine were broken, shattering his spinal cord.

He was flown to Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch where he spent weeks in an induced coma.

He was sedated for weeks and hooked up to breathing machines. He underwent surgery to stabilise his spine. He was told he would never walk again.

Dan was 31 at the time. He and Jodie had their three children, Teeghan, Cooper and Mylee, who were only very young. He arrived home to them months later on May 26 of that year. Jodie remembers all the dates.

Dan works hard at staying positive. He admits there were “dark days” and he had battled bouts of depression since the accident.

“I was in a slump for a few years. I chucked out all my work shirts,” he says. “It’s easy to slip into the depression rut and I know everyone has their bad days, but if you keep yourself active the self-esteem is better.”

Since starting McCown Pumps he has been able to keep busy. That has helped.

“Not every day is perfect, but it’s a lot better than it used to be just sitting around doing bugger all.”

It was Jodie who came up with the idea to start the business a little more than a year ago. Since then it has been a case of “fake it until you make it”.

They brought on a business mentor, which they say has been a help in framing direction.

McCown Pumps represents three generations, as Dan had learnt the trade and worked for his father, Darryl “Bull” McCown, for years, with father passing knowledge to son.

“Dad taught me, and now Teeghan’s picking it up really well. He worked for me one day a week while he was at school so has been at it for a while now,” he says. 

“It’s good having him. Hopefully his brother can follow him around soon.”

McCown Pumps turn their hand to anything, including general servicing of the dairy industry, household pump maintenance, UV, septic and irrigation pumps systems.

When work goes quiet, Dan turns his hand to fixing and servicing things like lawn mowers and nail guns.

“There’s always room for more work. That’s what we are hoping.”

Contact Dan at danielmccown01@gmail.com · 022 587 5450