Paralyzed biker?

[windsurfsail]

I was biking down on the MN River Bottom trail about 5 years ago and came across a sight that affected me greatly and I have never forgotten. There were two brothers biking and one of them hit a tree and was lying on the ground being aided by a paramedic that had just arrived by boat. As far as we could tell, the rider was paralyzed by the accident and couldn’t move or breathe on his own. A medical helicopter was called and we cleared an area for it to land. After he was taken away in the helicopter, I never heard about him again but never forgot the incident either. Every time I ride by the spot, I am reminded and hope that he recovered. Does anyone know who this was and his current condition?
sPk

[Don Youngdahl]

Originally posted by windsurfsail
...the rider was paralyzed by the accident and couldn’t move or breathe on his own. ......... Does anyone know who this was and his current condition?
sPk

I've heard about the incident, but never heard the follow-up, or how the accident happened. Overhead fallen trees or tree branches are the biggest paralysis risks I know, because the neck takes the full brunt of a collision. I know of a dirt bike rider who's a quadriplegic because he whacked his helmet on an overhead tree branch he either misjudged or didn't see.

That's why I'm pretty anal about overhead branches or riding challenges that involve overhead obstacles. Nobody will ever convince me that any overhead obstacle that a rider of any height under 6'6" could contact at any speed, sitting or standing, is an acceptable trail feature.

Don Youngdahl

[zerpy]

Originally posted by Don Youngdahl
I've heard about the incident, but never heard the follow-up, or how the accident happened. Overhead fallen trees or tree branches are the biggest paralysis risks I know, because the neck takes the full brunt of a collision. I know of a dirt bike rider who's a quadriplegic because he whacked his helmet on an overhead tree branch he either misjudged or didn't see.

That's why I'm pretty anal about overhead branches or riding challenges that involve overhead obstacles. Nobody will ever convince me that any overhead obstacle that a rider of any height under 6'6" could contact at any speed, sitting or standing, is an acceptable trail feature.

Don Youngdahl


Oh sure, it's ok for people over 6'6 to get whacked....:)

Just kidding. I fully agree. As a relatively tall person, who also ride a pretty big bike (which puts me up even higher) I hate overhead objects. I've been whacked a few times by things on a couple of trails, which I think were recently fallen stuff as I don't think they're there anymore, and been knocked clear off my bike.

Actually, I've never given any thought to the neck stress part, but what has always gotten me about it is I don't see it coming. I'm used to looking out for things ON the trail, not above it, and don't fix on things just above the line of sight that still nail ya. So, it takes me completely by surprise and unprepared, just makes it that much worse.

[dennis porter]

This incident happened a few years back and unfortunately the person died. It was truly a tragedy. I heard from one of the Bloomington cops. Yes, it was two brothers one visiting from out of town. They had rented a bike and a helmet. One of them slid out around a corner and hit the top of his head. He must have hit just right to injure his spinal cord (similar to a Hockey injury I saw a couple of years ago on the news). The other brother was doing his best to keep him breathing but he and the emergency workers could not do anything. It's one of those freak accidents that can happen anywhere, anytime, doing anything. I'm glad that this accident hasn't (yet?) been blamed on mounatin biking as a sport. Carpe diem.

Dennis.

[SickBoy]

It would be a shame if we (as in mountain bikers) were to get banned from any given area due to something of "freak accident" nature.

I'm surprised I had never heard about this before.... truly sad.

[zerpy]

Yes, I'm not surprised the local news hadn't gotten word of it then launched a special report into the dangers of "extreme sports" such as mountain biking and what happens to "all us nutballs" that choose to mountain bike.

Although, I can say it is good my wife doesn't know about it...