A Western Australian teenager has shattered his spine and been left without sensation below his chest, in a freak motocross accident.
Ben Sainsbury, 16, suffered a ‘serious spinal injury’ on September 4, when he was thrown over the handlebars of his bike during a warm-up session.
Despite wearing all the appropriate safety gear, he received multiple injuries including broken ribs, a torn spleen and damage to his spinal cord.
Western Australian teenager Ben Sainsbury (pictured) shattered his spine and was left without sensation below his chest, in a freak motocross accident on September 4
The RAC helicopter was called to the scene, with the teenager flown to Royal Perth Hospital were he spent five days in intensive care, Seven News reports.
His sister Cassie Sainsbury said the incident occurred when the tyre of Ben’s bike hit a ‘kicker’ and he was tossed head first.
‘The impact of that crash is what caused most of the injuries, but the bike also ploughed through his back’ she said.
Ben suffered damage to his T5 and T6 vertebrae, undergoing specialist surgery to have rods put in to stabilise his spine, a friend wrote on a Go Fund Me Page.
His future will now involve ‘intense therapy’, with his family trying to remain positive.
‘Thank god he wore all that gear on the day, because if it wasn’t for that he probably wouldn’t be here today,’ Ms Sainsbury said.
Despite wearing all the appropriate safety gear, he received multiple injuries including broken ribs, a torn spleen and damage to his spinal cord requiring two metal rods to be inserted during surgery (pictured)
His sister Cassie Sainsbury (pictured with Ben) said the incident occurred when the tyre of Ben’s bike hit a ‘kicker’ and he was tossed head first, before the bike ‘ploughed through his back’
Hoping to help on Ben’s ‘long road to recovery,’ a fundraising page has so far raised $15,868 of a $20,000 goal.
‘Ben is a well loved and respected member of the community who is always willing to help anyone anytime,’ the creator wrote online.
‘We are hoping to give back to Ben what he has given to so many others by hopefully raising funds to get through the immediate costs upon the family.’
While a Facebook community titled ‘Boots out for Ben’ has also rallied to provide updates on the teenager’s condition.
The page boasts more than 700 followers and regularly shares photos of motocross boot lined up to raise awareness and s how support.
‘We all care about Ben so much, I hope he knows just how much the MX community are behind him,’ one person wrote.
Hoping to help on Ben’s ‘long road to recovery,’ a fundraising page has so far raised $15,868 of a $20,000 goal, with a Facebook campaign ‘Boots out for Ben’ also rallying behind him