A Friend’s Perspective: A Rider With Paraplegia
On the afternoon of May 22, 2013 an afternoon bike ride with a friend turned out to be the most distressing, horrifying, and life changing event that I have experienced to date.I've known Mike for a few years now. He had heard that I rode downhill, he was starting to get into the sport, and so he approached myself and some friends at school, sat down, and introduced himself. Little did I know at the time he was to become one of my closest friends during the years to follow. Since that day, we've spent countless hours riding, shuttling, digging new trails, and hanging out.
Mike is mature beyond his years, dedicated, and has an incredible attitude. One thing a lot of people notice about Mike is his awesome sense of humour, and his instant like-ability. You can see people getting drawn in as he speaks and laughs with them. He is always friendly and non-judgemental.
Two years ago, Mike crashed his bike. He landed headfirst off a road gap and broke his neck. Whether it was a combination of luck or chance, Mike suffered no permanent damage. Despite breaking two vertebrae he rode home unaware of the extent of his injury. Though he went through months of rehabilitation and therapy, Mike was fine. He was back on his bike, cautious, but still with many good times ahead.
Fast forward to May 22nd, 2013. Mike and I had planned on going for a ride in his hometown of Sunbury. He had been working on and maintaining a few local spots: downhill trails, jumps, practically anything he could go and ride. He wanted to take me out and show me a spot he had been working on - a few little jumps and drops in and around an old eroded gully.
We looked at a new line, nothing big, nothing scary or crazy. A small drop down into the gully. We only had one bike there that day and Mike decided to hit it first. As I sat on the edge of the gully, Mike rode past me, went off the drop, lost his balance and went over his handlebars into the bottom of the gully. He landed on his head, hard enough to fracture and dislocate the T7 vertebra in his spine. I expected Mike to jump back up on his feet, maybe call it a day and head home. Instead he called out to me, telling me he couldn't feel anything. At first, I didn't know what he meant. The impossible had become reality. On that day, everything in Mike’s life changed. He was left on the ground without any feeling from his stomach down.
The next few hours were a blur, as were the days after. I called an ambulance and tried to keep Mike calm while we waited. I had to call his parents. We were just minutes from his house. Telling his parents what had happened is one of the hardest things I have had to do. His parents, brother, and sisters came and found us. We all helped the paramedics and the firefighters to carry him out. He was sent to the Royal Melbourne's emergency department. By the time I arrived there, the staff had done scans to confirm the injury and prepare Mike for surgery. Doctors told Mike that it would be unlikely he would ever walk again, let alone ride. I sat by his bed for hours.
Mike’s surgery was a success. The surgeons discovered that his spinal cord was crushed, not severed. It was in one piece but could no longer send the impulses and signals needed for him to have sensation and movement from the injury down.
A few months later, Mike was set to go home from rehab. He can do one-handed wheelies in his chair, get himself in and out of a car, be self sufficient. He can now do a lot of things that we do every day without even thinking about, he just doesn't use his legs anymore. There are hundreds of complications with his injury, but there isn't a need to talk about all of them. What is important is that Mike manages to overcome them. Each and every one of them. However, what Mike doesn't have is money. Because he wasn't on a road he has no insurance, his superannuation fund didn't have Total and Permanent Disability cover. So unfortunately, Mike and his family are faced with hundreds of thousands of dollars of costs. Bills, rehab, house modifications. The list goes on and on.
Mike’s life was turned upside down but his attitude and determination are absolutely inspiring. Mike still manages to be the life of the room, telling the jokes and wearing the biggest smile. Mike’s convinced that he will be back on a bike again one day. Two wheels. And I believe him, because he's already shown that if anybody can pull through it’s him.
Going through this with Mike has changed my opinions, my maturity, and my outlook and attitude to life. It has made me more appreciative and more aware of what people go through and how good the majority of us have it. So perhaps the next time you go to get something new for your bike simply because you like the colour, or go to buy a round of beers for your friends after a ride, maybe buy Mike a round as well. Doesn't matter how much or how little. Anything counts and Mike will appreciate it all.
Thank you,
Jack O'Hare
Its great to hear you are doing better, though I couldnt read through the whole (well written) article as it hit a little too close to home. Iv donated and hope everything turns out alright.
How is that going?
Good to see your staying positive. Its Inspiring to see feats of true strength when you have been hit this hard. Keep moving forward champ.
I was in the bike park along with some of his friends when this accident occured and will never forgot that day. Thankfully the paramedics got to the bike park within 5 minutes of the call going out, and undoubtedly saved his life as he could not breathe due to the injuries he sustained.
Unfortunately he did not have any insurance and was forced to sue the bike park and landowner to try and pay for 24 hour medical care following his discharge from the NHS.
The lawsuit hung over the bike park ( a not-for-profit enterprise) for 3 years, until his legal team admitted defeat (it was found to be rider error) and sadly he got nothing to help with his care.
After his accident, I went out and got insurance specifically to cover me for any injuries caused by my riding, as I was doing a lot of extreme freeride and downhill racing.
I would strongly advise any riders who are actively mountain biking to make sure you have proper insurance cover, its often not expensive (I was paying about GBP£40 a month) just in case something happens you don't walk away from.
To Mike, I wish you the best of luck for the future and hope your plans come to fruition.
I remember when this happened to the chap you're talking about - someone was talking about it in Cycle Surgery, Camden - must have been the same guy right? 12 years later my brother broke his spine at Fort Bill... there's a lot of it about and it's the white elephant in the room to a lot of riders... I know I ignore it every time I still go out and ride downhill myself - how else would we carry on riding?
I did find the costs high as I was not earning much but then realised it was only £10 a week which in perspective is not a lot, especially compared to potential costs of ongoing medical bills or the amount we can spend on bike parts or beer!
The guy injured at Esher worked for cycle surgery. Everyone associated with the bike park felt really bad as it was a fellow rider down. We wanted to organise an industry fund raiser at the first Esher shore jam, but the jam got cancelled and bike park closed down for 8 months following start of his lawsuit, we were firmly told by our legal team to not try and do anything to help him as it could be seen as admission of liability!
One part which really upsets me is hearing the insurance company doesn't cover the accident due it not being on a road. WTF? Does that matter? A person's life has changed… Insurance, legal crime.
Stay strong and don`t abadon hope!
However, hearing things like that always gets me thinking: "is it really worth the risk?"
Imagining it happen to me REALLY frightens me!
How do you guys handle this?
We all do need the Lord's presence in our lives.
Be strong, brother!!
I thought it was a "universal"type system where this type of stuff was always covered.
Sure insure insurence may have helped financially but it does not change the courage and struggle that this guy has gone through.
goddamn autocorrection *facepalm.jpg*
Lets not debate the importance of neck protection here this unfortunate Injury has already taken place.
All the best with continuing recovery, your a massive inspiration to be so positive and move forward.