Sport
BMX
On road to recovery
11May06
BMX champion Luke Madill is recuperating from a serious accident.
ONE of Australia's top BMX riders, Penrith's Luke Madill, came very close to becoming a quadriplegic after a nasty crash in practice before round eight of the UCI Oceania Series in Adelaide last week.
The current national champion, Madill had tested out the track for officials on his 20in bike before trying out his 24in cruiser bike for practice when the accident happened.
Gradually increasing his speed and going lower over the bumps, Madill crashed out spectacularly but there was no hint of the incident being as serious as it was.
His parents watched as Madill failed to get up and it was only then those in attendance realised the severity of the crash.
``When he reached him he was bleeding from the nose and eyes and had bit his tongue,'' his father, Roger, said.
``We saw him go down but it was a bit frightening when he did not get up. He was in terrible pain.
``When he was in the ambulance he said to them `I am no wuss but could you do something to help with the pain'.''
Madill suffered three broken vertebrae in his back and one in his neck and a broken nose in the crash.
``Luke spent five days flat on his back,'' Mr Madill said. ``The first specialist who saw him at the Royal Adelaide Hospital said he would never ride again.
``But the opinions and the news got better every day. They believe once the swelling goes down around his neck the soreness in his shoulders, which has been almost unbearable, will subside and he will be able to come home.
``They have told him not to do anything for another six weeks so he will have plenty of time to think about his future.
``I don't want him to ride again and it will be up to him to make the final decision but I know he will be back in training, of some description, as soon as he can.''
