Most mountain bikers are still in denial about the danger of mountain
biking. The issue is never discussed in mountain biking forums. And
humans claim to be able to think???

Mike

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/press-communities/6316137/Brace...

Brace saves teen mountain biking

$600 well spent

CATE BROUGHTON
Last updated 08:48 26/01/2012

A 15-year-old with a passion for downhill mountainbiking has narrowly
escaped paralysis, thanks to the neck brace he was wearing.

Caleb Manson is still coming to terms with the accident that almost
cost him his life last November.

A routine run on a track at Victoria Park turned sour when he came too
fast over a jump and slammed head-first into a tree.

The impact broke a vertebrae and damaged his spinal cord.

"I was coming up to a jump across a road and came a bit fast and went
head-first into a tree."

Lying in the bush, he could not feel anything from his neck down.

"I had a lot of pain in my neck but I couldn't feel anything else so I
wasn't sure what was going on.

"I had been aware of spinal injuries, and that's why I was wearing a
neck brace."

Two joggers found him minutes later and called for help.

At the hospital scans revealed he had broken his C5 vertebrae - but
not completely.

His doctors have since said the $600 neck brace his parents had bought
him three months before saved him from paralysis.

After a week in hospital, including four days in intensive care, he
was transferred to Burwood Hospital's spinal unit. On arrival, Caleb
was not able to walk or hold a drink. He can now walk for five
kilometres and has almost full function of his arms and hands.

When doctors told him he would have to abandon his sport for at least
a year it was another painful blow.

But he is keen to promote the neck brace to downhill enthusiasts.

"I can't really recommend them enough."

Caleb's mother, Lee Manson, said as a nurse she had been aware of the
risk of neck and spinal injuries.

"He was increasing his speeds and wanting to race and in the end we
thought: 'We can't risk it'.

"And it was the best $600 we've ever spent, " she said.