Injured glider begins long road to recovery after crash
AN extreme sports fanatic who survived a horror crash while "speed winging" has said he is back on his feet, but faces a long road to recovery.
Stuart Kelly, 34, who lives in Pontarddulais, spoke to the Evening Post from his hospital bed yesterday.
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Mr Kelly was left with spine injuries following the accident last weekend.
He was speed flying, which is similar to paragliding, at Rhossili in Gower when he crashed into the ground.
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After the crash he was airlifted to Morriston Hospital and later taken to a specialist unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where he has so far undergone two operations on his spine.
He said: "The first operation was on the day after the accident, then I had a second one a few days later.
"They had to go in through my back first and had to place a bar.
"The second one was in through the front to take out bone fragments.
"Now I've got to get my body working again.
"I am up on my feet but I can't do a lot at the moment. I'm just taking it day by day."
Mr Kelly said he had been trying not to go over and over the accident in his mind.
"It could have been a lot worse," he said. "But it could have been a lot better. If I had turned a bit sharper out it wouldn't have happened.
"I've done it before."
But he said the support of family and friends has helped him feel positive — as well as fellow members of the South West Wales Soaring Club
"Lots of people have been rallying around me," he said.
"There's not a lot to be done — I've just got to wait and find out how quickly I can get my body working again.
"It could be a long process."
Rhossili Coastguard rescue team, the Wales Air Ambulance and an RAF SeaKing helicopter were called out to the bay following the crash last Saturday afternoon.
Comments
by Stork
Monday, October 22 2012, 6:01PM
“boogieboy
The cyclist who gets knocked off his bike, or the pedestrian injured while crossing the road" are two cases of people who have been injured, not by their own actions, but by someone else not taking care by avoiding physical contact. Those injured, would have been injured by someone else !
The runner injured in a half marathon, could have been injured by others, as above, or might have slipped on the road with no contact from any other person. The only mitigating circumstance in this situation would be that virtually every full or half marathon, requires the runners to be raising money for some good cause or another.
However, Mr. Kelly's injuries were self inflicted when he was involved in an extreme sport which went wrong, he crashed into the ground. Was he raising money for a charity ?
When people compete in dangerous extreme sports like Mr. Kelly's, or potholing or free diving and get injured. It's the rest of us taxpayers who have to pay the repair bills. If someone takes up flying an aeroplane, they have to have insurance, the same should apply to other pastimes that could involve considerable NHS resources, whilst that agency is under extreme financial pressure.”
by Stork
Monday, October 22 2012, 5:59PM
“boogieboy
The cyclist who gets knocked off his bike, or the pedestrian injured while crossing the road" are two cases of people who have been injured, not by their own actions, but by someone else not taking care by avoiding physical contact. Those injured, would have been injured by someone else !
The runner injured in a half marathon, could have been injured by others, as above, or might have slipped on the road with no contact from any other person. The only mitigating circumstance in this situation would be that virtually every full or half marathon, requires the runners to be raising money for some good cause or another.
However, Mr. Kelly's injuries were self inflicted when he was involved in an extreme sport which went wrong, he crashed into the ground. Was he raising money for a charity ?
When people compete in dangerous extreme sports like Mr. Kelly's, or potholing or free diving and get injured. It's the rest of us taxpayers who have to pay the repair bills. If someone takes up flying an aeroplane, they have to have insurance, the same should apply to other pastimes that could involve considerable NHS resources, whilst that agency is under extreme financial pressure.”
by boogieboy
Monday, October 22 2012, 4:16PM
“and so what about the cyclist who gets knocked off his bike, or the pedestrian injured while crossing the road or runner injured in a half marathon for example..... should we all take out specialist insurance, "Just in case" so what - someone has an exciting, physical hobby and gets injured while setting a good example and you Mr or Mrs Stork immediately jump on the "Bill them for rescue" bandwagon.
Grow a pair and live life on the edge, sense the adventure, who knows, you may even enjoy it, instead of living a sad, lonely, vindictive and miserable existence behind a keyboard.”
by Stork
Monday, October 22 2012, 2:31PM
“I expect Mr. Kelly's insurance company will be picking up the tab for all the rescue and hospital expenses, yes ?”