Rapper's comeback fight

A freak accident has left a Bunbury rapper with a broken spine and robbed her of a shot on the national stage.

Kadyelle, known to her friends as Katy Somerville, was scheduled to perform at Groovin’ the Moo as the Triple J Unearthed act earlier this month.

But while fighting for the gold medal in the WA Brazilian Jiu Jitsu invitational the weekend before the festival, Mrs Somerville broke three vertebrae in her spine.

“The woman I was fighting put me in a headlock as I tried to wrap my legs around her waist,” Mrs Somerville said.

“We fell over with her on top of me and the next thing I can remember is waking up in an ambulance.”

Mrs Somerville avoided serious spine damage but will spend the next six to 12 weeks in a neck and thoracic brace and was forced to pull out of Groovin’ the Moo.

“My husband called the organisers to let them know and they were incredibly supportive and understanding,” Mrs Somerville said.

“I’m disappointed because I still feel like I’ve let a lot of people down.

“I’d been looking forward to Groovin’ the Moo for months and had been rehearsing every day.

“I’m staying positive — the injury could have been a lot worse.”

Mrs Somerville, who trains under Jason Carton at BJJ Bunbury, said the accident had not put her off the sport and she planned to return to the mat.

“I love BJJ and part of that is understanding and accepting the risks,” she said.

“I’ll be back at training as soon as possible to help out the rest of the team until I can get involved myself.”

Mrs Somerville is yet to speak with Groovin’ the Moo organisers but would like to appear at next year’s festival.

“I’m hoping to be considered again but we’ll just have to wait and see what happens,” she said