A young freestyle bike rider will never walk again after a crash during a routine training session snapped her spine in half while her fiancé watched on in horror.
Christina Vithoulkas, 23, suffered a lacerated spleen, punctured lungs, broken ribs and a severed spinal cord after the horrific accident in the South Australian Riverland region on Saturday.
The accident caused paralysis in the young beauty from her the top of her ribs down.
Christina Vithoulkas, 23, suffered a lacerated spleen, punctured lungs, broken ribs and a severed spinal cord after the horrific accident
Ms Vithoulkas, who has been described by friends as a vibrant woman, got into riding five years ago
Ms Vithoulkas shattered her T5 & T6 which has therefore severed her spinal cord (pictured)
Her finance James Wild, 25, watched as the nightmare unfolded before his eyes during the training session.
‘I was screaming at her to wake up. She was unconscious for a while. It’s a massive scar that’s going to be in my brain for the rest of my life,’ he said.
Ms Vithoulkas was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where she discovered her life had changed.
She shared on Facebook: ‘Unfortunately things aren’t going to be the same for me anymore, I’m going to learn how to use a wheelchair and adapt to my new lifestyle.
Ms Vithoulkas, who has been described by friends as a vibrant woman, got into riding five years ago.
‘It was her passion,’ Mr Wild said.
Earlier this year, Ms Vithoulkas’ friend and fellow rider Daymon Stokie, 28, died after suffering severe injuries during the Alice Spring motocross event.
‘The worst feeling ever to find out another mate lost his life,’ Ms Vithoulkas wrote on Facebook.
‘You went out doing what you loved and I hope you enjoy the tracks up there legend, Daymon Stokie fly high.’
Mr Wild says he will give up riding to care for his partner. He said Christina is his world and he can’t risk an injury now as his ‘his girl’ needs him
Ms Vithoulkas got engaged to her partner of three years James Wild last month, and were planning on performing in their own motorbike stunt show
Ms Vithoulkas and Mr Wild, got engaged just last month, and were planning on performing in their own motorbike stunt show.
After Ms Vithoulkas’ accident, Mr Wild says he will give up riding to care for his partner.
He said Christina is his world and he can’t risk an injury now as his ‘his girl’ needs him.
He also plans to sell his bikes.
‘We could have lost her. At the end of the day we still have each other and that’s what matters.’
The pair met three years ago on the freestyle riding circuit and had been planning on buying a house together.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for Ms Vithoulkas.
She shared on Facebook: ‘Unfortunately things aren’t going to be the same for me anymore, I’m going to learn how to use a wheelchair and adapt to my new lifestyle