The 47-year-old had his return race with the Forster Tri Club recently. But we’ll get to that a bit later.

Sewell, from Cundletown, was riding with fellow-triathlete Troy Croker near Coolongolook three years ago. He has no memory of the incident, other than the fact he went over the handle bars and head first into the road when doing 80 clicks.

“I might have hit a bit of metal on the road – I just don’t know,’’ Sewell said.

Croker was ahead of him at the time. However, the driver of a car who was following Sewell caught up with Croker to let him know. Sewell said he also had a bit of luck.

“Two cars pulled up to assist,’' he said.

“There was an emergency nurse in one and a doctor in the other.’’

Sewell was taken to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital in a bad way.

“I head butted the road so I had multiple fractures in my skull. I broke four ribs and I had a punctured lung and I also tore my ACL,’’ he said.

“I also tore a tendon away from my ankle.’’

There were also initial fears he had sustained spinal injuries.

“I had to wait for the swelling to go down before they could do scans,’’ he said.

“But thankfully they came back clear.’’

Sewell concedes that any of the injuries on their own could be career-ending. However, as soon as he was released from hospital Sewell started planning his comeback – if not to competition at least to training.

“I couldn’t do anything for eight months and I was off work for three,’’ he explained.

He said they were eight long and painful months and there were some dark times. Sewell credits the support he received from his wife, Tracey and children Daniel and Emma as helping with his recovery. Sewell was finally given the all clear to resume riding an exercise bike. Nearly a year after the accident he was allowed to ride on the road. This didn’t unleash any demons.

“I didn’t remember anything about the accident, so I didn’t have any problem with getting back on the road,’’ Sewell explained.

He eventually added swimming and then running to his program – the swimming assisted the recovery from the ACL injury. He pondered a possible return to racing with the Forster Tri Club, where he is the vice president.

“I stayed involved with the club – helping set up for races and watching the events,’’ he said.

“But I missed competing, it was pretty tough being a spectator.’’

He decided that racing in club events would be the perfect avenue to return to serious competition.

“At first I thought I might be right towards the end of this season or maybe at the start of next year,’’ he said.

However, rating himself 90 per cent fit, Sewell decided to have a crack at the club race a fortnight ago. 

“I wasn’t sure if I was getting ahead of myself,’’ Sewell admitted.

“But it was only a baby race – a 400 metre swim, 15km bike and 4km run, so I thought, why not?’’

The club report of the event said the Sewell ‘smashed the course,’ finishing in 51 minutes 53 seconds. He was happy with the time although he admits the day after presented a few problems.

“It felt like I'd been in an ironman (triathlon),’’ he laughed.

“But it was just general muscle tiredness. I was fine after a day or so and I’m looking forward to racing again.’’

He’s training three days a week, alternating between the pool, the bike and running. Sewell said it’s nothing too strenuous, but he’ll gradually increase the workload. 

A car accident sidelined him in 2013 for a lengthy spell, so he knows what is required to get back to peak fitness.

Sewell will contest club races held every fortnight for the remainder of the season but doesn’t have any plans to enter major events.

“I always said I wouldn’t be doing anything big until my kids finished their HSC. Emma does it next year, so I’ll be right after that,’’ he explained.

“I’d eventually like to do a 70.3 (half ironman).’’

Sewell has completed 11 ironman races (3.8km swim, 180 bike, 42.2km marathon) – triathlon’s premier event  – six in Australia and five world championship events in Kona, Hawaii.

His best performance in Australia is 9 hours 23 while he has a PB of 9 hours 26 in Hawaii.

Sewell figures he still has time on his side and another ironman isn’t out of the equation.

“I’m only 47, I’m still in nappies,’’ he smiled.

“You never say never – rounding it off to a dozen sounds like a good plan.’’