Long ride to recovery after mountainbike crash
With the prognosis of a long recovery likely, efforts are under way to support the family of young Nelson rider Finn Richardson.
It has been one week since the 17-year-old Nelson mountainbiker suffered serious back injuries in a crash.
Richardson was airlifted to Christchurch Hospital on September 8 after falling off his mountainbike at a property in Todds Valley, north of Nelson.
Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust pilot Barry McAuliffe said last week that Richardson fell heavily after going over the handlebars, landing on his head and neck.
In an Instagram post following the accident, Richardson said he had broken his T5 vertebra, and was trying to stay positive while looking at a long period of recovery.
Richardson underwent spinal surgery that night and was subsequently moved from intensive care at Christchurch Hospital to Burwood Hospital spinal unit on Tuesday.
He will be staying there for the next two to three months and is currently being treated as a paraplegic.
Family spokeswoman Dulkara Martig said Richardson had started some physiotherapy rehabilitation and next week would begin a more comprehensive programme.
‘‘Finn is staying positive and is thankful for all the love and support from everybody,’’ she said.
Martig said the family would not have more information about the extent of Finn’s injuries for at least four weeks. His parents, Claire Bawtree and Glenn Richardson, acknowledged the ‘‘amazing’’ staff and facilities at Burwood, and also thanked the rescue helicopter personnel and the people of Nelson for the overwhelming amount of support and kind messages received so far.
A bank account has been set up for to support the family during the rehabilitation process. Donations can be made to: Account name: ‘Finn Richardson’ Account number: 03-1354-0475622-16 A fundraising campaign to set up an ‘‘Adventure Fund’’ to help Finn get back into adventuring during his recovery period and beyond is also under way.
If you have a product or service you are willing to donate to this, please email dulkara.martig@gmail.com with ‘‘Finn’’ in the subject line.