A teenage mountain biker paralysed from the waist down after a crash has returned home to Inverness just 12 weeks after suffering devastating spinal injuries. Conor Perrins, 16, was told he would never walk again after the accident on Dunain Hill above the city on July 25.
Despite the prognosis, Conor refused to accept that his days of pursuing his passion and traversing forest trails with friends were over. Instead of sliding into a dark place, he powered into physio work with such relish that he may have halved the expected hospital time for his type of injury.
Inspiration from a specialised bike
Part of the inspiration for the Scottish champion mountain biker was the discovery of a highly-specialised, adaptive electric bike called a Bowhead Reach. An asking price of around £22,000 could have killed the dream of returning to the trails with his mates.
But Conor's dad Richard, mum Claire and sisters Abigail and Rhianna launched a Crowdfunder, and the response was breathtaking. GoFundMe donations have soared past the purchase price to more than £27,000.
Dad Richard said: "We've been absolutely humbled by all the support we have received, and we're so grateful. It has been quite overwhelming. You expect these things to maybe raise a couple of thousand pounds."
Support and recovery
Receiving the call to alert them to the accident was every parent's nightmare on July 25. It might have proven even worse had it not been for the actions of Conor's quick-thinking biking pals, who not only swiftly raised the alarm but then helped paramedics haul emergency medical equipment through inaccessible terrain to the scene.
Taken to Raigmore Hospital by road initially, Conor was soon flown south in a special air ambulance light aeroplane to Scotland's specialist spinal unit in Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The former Culloden Academy pupil was found to have shattered the thoracic 8 and 9 bones in his back, as well as breaking three ribs and three vertebrae in his neck.
Richard said: "Conor has just been discharged and we made it home on Friday (October 23). We spent a few extra days chilling in Glasgow to enable some final work to be done on adapting our home, ready for Conor's return."
Next steps and community support
The extra crowdfunding cash will be used to ensure that the new bike, once it arrives, can also be transported to where Conor needs to use it. The timescale is uncertain, but a worst-case scenario should see the youngster back on his beloved trails before the festive period.
Richard added: "We were waiting on them getting some prices through to us, with a lot of things to be customised on the Bowhead. They are made-to-order almost, with everything from the type of seat and wheels, down to the colour of the bolts, variable."
Conor is looking forward to getting home and seeing his mates, continuing life where he left off. The Bowhead will help massively as he will be able to continue to ride the trails with his friends. The small charity Heather's Heroes donated £1000, and the family has received hundreds of donations from people they do not know.
