Neil Wilson, 56, was left with life-changing injuries following the accident in Italy in September and was left paralysed from the shoulders down after the crash
A retired firearms officer has been tragically left paralysed from the shoulders down following a horrific mountain bike accident while on holiday.
Neil Wilson, 56, sustained life-altering injuries after a dreadful crash in Finale Ligure, Italy, on 13 September. The father of three, who used to coach the sport, was ascending a mountain in the northern Italian commune when he overtook another cyclist, skidded and plummeted 14ft off a cliff edge.
Recounting the chilling incident, Neil, hailing from Dumfries, shared with the Record: “I was on holiday in Finale Ligure for riding – if you are a mountain biker, it is the place to be. I was doing a climb and the conditions were wet.
“I overtook another rider and was quite close to the edge. I pressed a bit too hard with my left foot and my back wheel slid. As it slid, my back wheel went over the edge and I went down with it. I must have fallen around 14ft and during the crash, my neck snapped back.”
“There was a hole in my helmet from where the force hit my head. As soon as I hit the ground I couldn’t feel a thing. It happened straight away.”
Following the accident, Neil was airlifted to a hospital in northern Italy, sedated and then flown back to Scotland. He was admitted to the National Spinal Unit at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, where he underwent surgery to insert several titanium pins into his neck reports the Daily Record.
After being discharged from the spinal unit in December, Neil is now residing at Lochleven Care Home near Lockerbie. Neil explained: “I suffered a complete injury, so that means there is no coming back from it and I will be paralysed from the shoulders down for the rest of my life. I can feel my shoulders, but I can’t feel anything below that.”
The father, who currently relies on a chin-controlled powered wheelchair, hopes to return home and live independently once a care plan is established. Meanwhile, his friends are raising funds to help the former Police Scotland officer of 27 years get back on an assisted bike and into the mountains.
They’re working to purchase an off-road power quad, an adapted bike that would enable him to resume his beloved hobby.
He explained: “Mountain biking has always been a huge part of my life. After retiring from the police, I turned my passion into a business with coaching. It has been a hard thing to give up. My accident has changed my life, but I don’t want it to take my passion away.
“I was very unlucky with the crash, but it’s just one of those things. It would be great to get back out and about again and get my sense of freedom back. The amount of people in the mountain biking community that have taken the time to donate has been very emotional for me. It’s remarkable how they have come together.”
The GoFundMe page states: “While Neil will receive a chin-controlled power chair, it is unsuitable for rural terrain, preventing him from walking his dog, Jura, or accessing local trails.
“Neil’s adventurous spirit endures. Alongside a day-to-day power chair, he hopes to acquire an off-road power quad, enabling him to explore trails and rediscover his happy place in the hills. Let’s help Neil reclaim his freedom and keep his adventurous spirit alive.”
You can contribute to the fundraiser here.
