On the 22nd of April 2010 I pulled into a barrel at a beach break near Cape Town, got drilled into the sand bank and broke my L1 vertebra. I managed to paddle myself back to the beach but could not stand or walk because of the pain. A few surfers that were on the beach came to help me and carried me out of the water while I was lying on my board. Emergency services were contacted and I was airlifted from the beach to Milnerton Medi Clinic where doctors did x-rays and CT scans to find out how bad the damage was.
Turns out I had a 15% compression fracture on my L1 vertebra and thankfully no nerve damage, so there was no need for surgery.
I have to spend 6 weeks in bed with as little movement as possible and have to wear a brace if I need to get up. During this period the bone starts healing itself and gravity is the enemy. So any vertical posture is bad. After the bone has healed. It will take another 6 weeks to get strong. During this period I will focus on getting my muscular strength back while introducing my back slowly to vertical loads. Lots of swimming. At the end of these 6 weeks I will be able to paddle around on my board and surf small waves. It will take another 3 months after this to get back to where I was when the accident happened.
Thank you for all the messages of encouragement and to all the people that helped me on the beach and came to visit me in hospital. You made me feel a lot better.
Click here to see how to surf here without breaking something.
No related posts.
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
Hi James,
Sorry to hear the news boet, but glad you’re well and recovering. All the best for a full recovery, rest well and pop in here for a cold one whenever you feel like it.
Cheers
Hi James,
Good to hear from you, but so sorry to hear about your accident. I can’t believe you got hurt on a 6 ft wave after all the amazing waves you caught at Mavericks this winter. Haley Fisk, one of the stand-up paddle boarders, has some amazing photos of you at Mavericks on his Facebook. Email me back if you want to get a hold of these photos. Did you and your friend every make videos of the waves at Mavericks? If you did, could you email me the link. Thank God you’re going to be ok. We forget how fragile life is. You and any of your friends are always welcome at my place in Hermosa Beach, CA. It was a pleasure surfing with you guys this winter. I know that you’ll heal fast and be back in the water quickly.
Your friend, Mike Maurry
Hi James. John Bain forewarded me your video about your injury. I am so sorry you are injured, but thankful that you will be OK. Maybe you will be back at Waimea in October, and you can come over for dinner. Hi to Bart and Frankie.Best wishes for a uneventful recovery.
Aloha
Sandie
Stay positive, keep on smiling and if you ever need anything don’t hesitate to call, sms or email me.
Lots of love and hugs all the way from the Big Apple.
God Speed recovery.
Wow, insane! Glad you made it “ok” , at least you will regain full use of legs, etc.
Watching the video brings back memories of when I wiped off my super bike at 140kph, and broke my femur (leg bone). Lay there for 2 hours waiting for paramedics. Took a few weeks to recover, and pain was insane. Thank goodness for morphine!
Get well soon buddy!
Hey man
Goodluck with the recovery – bum lots of movies off your friends to keep you busy!
Also had a 65% compression fracture on my L1 (whilst trampolining doh!) and had to spend 3 weeks in hospital with an op and complications etc so I know exactly how it feels and how annoying it can get spending so much time in bed!
Learning to walk again after so long is not fun, but having your first solo shower again after all the bed baths sure is awesome
– Oh, and the back brace makes you look machine, so enjoy it while it lasts haha.
Best wishes,
Jono
Right there with you mate April26th cane garden bay B.V.I Last swell of the season Big rock
mashed up my L1 …paddled out and then put on a backboard by mates
what can I say…worse things happen at sea. Eat prunes(im sure you know what i mean))
Mixcraft5 is a cool little free download if you like to fool around recording music on the comp
good luck
steve
James
I am bummed to hear this news but pleased you were able to avoid surgery. No doubt when next you are in a barrel you are gonna forget all about this. Life’s like that and the mind is a seriously powerful tool if you let it. Take care and wish you a complete healing. Thanks again for the heart you put into making our DVD. Take care buddy. Marc
hey up bro
Dont know you but get wel soon
Steve
Hi James
Sorry to hear about your mishap. I am sure you will be fit and strong soon
Cheers
Tony
Hey mate,
Don’t know you but keep strong mate!
All the best for your healing,
Bretto
hay mate, hope you get well and get back on your board soon.
So bly jy is ok, James! Sterkte, en gedra jou stil dat jy 100% kan herstel en weer surf!
Liefde uit George
Hey Coz!
Best of luck with the recover and we are all thinking of you!
Hoping to see you soon.
Love from us Roux’s….
Hi James,
Glad you are recovering well. You are so lucky to have your Mom there to look after you. Will phone her soon for a further update.
XX Aunty Merlie,
I had a kitesurfing incident last year that blew my foot up pretty badly. Broken fibula and 4 ligaments torn in half. That’s when they stopped keeping track. Two surgeries later and after four months on crutches I started to kite again, strapless on a surfboard. The good news is that from here it’s all little steps in the right direction. Don’t sweat the muscle loss, your muscle will recover quicker than the rest of your body. My left quad was almost gone, and now it’s performing quite well. Contact 3 or 4 physical therapists as soon as you can, they will let you know what to expect, they give out waaaay better information than doctors, especially surgeons. Backs are a pain in the ass, but you’re probably pretty damn tough – hang in there and remember that a 98% recovery is way better than a 92% recovery – even though you may have to chill for an extra period of time.
All the best for speedy recovery- getting into a barrel looks so easy- but as surfers we know there are so many hidden dangers to the sport we love so much.
Thanks for sharing your story- hope you are back in water paddling again soon.
Kate
San Diego CA
Hey bra… Im from Mexico, i had a little accident like yours, i broke my neck though, the docs dont explain how it is that im breathing by myself, anyway ive been throug a couple of surgerys its been around five months recovery, and theres 3 more left, and then rehab. The accident was similar so, i kind of have the idea of what went through your head at the moment and what you are going through…
The best advise i could give you is that better than a fast recovery is a full and complete recovery even if it takes a little longer…
Wish you the best bra. We’ll be surfing again soon…
Hi James,
We wish you a speedy recovery and thank the Lord for special friends and people who took care of you while you were injured. Soon you’ll be back in the water doing what you love the most.
All the best
BBA (Boland Bodyboarding Association)
Woha. All the best James.
WOW…6month recovery.
Very unfortunate to happen to anybody. Kinda makes one realise the importance of “NOT” surfing alone, no matter what the size i guess.
Reminder of how easily – things can go wrong.
Try keep the stoke high, cold water brother!!
Gerry (Ireland)
Thank you for sharing the vid and story James. A lot of people were thinking of you and praying for your recovery. At least it’s just 6 months and that you will be surfing like a star again.