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.
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Hey James
Your a brave man, best of luck with your recovery from an Irish Surfer.
Take it easy, youll be back in action in no time.
Good luck recovering James! Glad you made to the beach! What happened after the green room? Did the board hit you or did the wave bend you the wrong way??
Hang in there brah, best wishes in your recovery! Thanks for the story.
Dean
PSS Get infinite cap internet at a fast speed and download as much movies as you can. For the same price as DSTV, you can get much better quality movies, just try torrents.
James,
Glad to hear you are working on recovery and have your mind set on surfing again in the future. Stay positive, do the hard work to get strong again, be thankful it was not worse. I am in the middle of a battle to get back on the water myself due to a different sort of medical issue…and now more than ever my sentiments , and advice to others, is TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED, every day is a gift and a miracle.
get well and best wishes
Roberto
Hey James.
Thanks for telling your story!
I’ve been pushing my limits in the surf a bit lately kitedurfing.
Snapped a few surf boards so hearing your story I’m going to back off a bit.
Anyway it’s great to hear you already talking about getting back to surfing.
So from a South African born kiter in Malibu, CA I shout out… GET WELL SOON!
Nice group of surfers there with you that day.
Hey man, 6 months and you are back where you where, I don’t believe it. I saw that Mav’s footage of yours, how can you be doing that again only 6 months after breaking your back…
I’ll just say one thing, if it takes you a year to get only to halfway of where you where, your still a lucky bastard, as I don’t think that I will ever surf Mav’s, or anywhere else over 10ft (If I am lucky, lol.) and clean as a whistle and with a channel.
Your insane bru.
PS, I know that wipe must have been massive, cause last year, early December I thing (might be late Nov.) I got hit by a car that was going 80km/s an hour without breaking much before hitting me. (I was on a bicycle, they hit me on lower back/side. I had a motha of a bruise and internal bleeding, and my back is a little mal-aligned, but no breakage of bone tissue nor nerve damage. Since I didn’t break any bones, and you did, and you are used to the high pressure wipes from big waves, that must have been one of the worst wipes anybody has ever had, anywhere.
Hope you have a speedy recovery, if its any consolation thats the best vid I’ve seen in years. They don’t come like this anymore, honest how it is and Raw.
Hey James,
Sorry for your mishap. I compressed T11&T12 snowboarding and know your pain.
I hope for your speedy recovery and for sure you’ll live to ride another day.
Steve
Mt. Vernon, Washington
Haai James,
my Pa hulle het my vertel van jou ongeluk met Dungeons en dat hulle by jou ingeloer het toe hulle in die Kaap was. Is net so dankbaar (wel einltik is jy meer!) dat die skade nie erger is nie. Stekte met die beter word en pas jouself op!!
Groete uit Skotland, (sal dalk vanjaar hier in die branders speel…….)
Jammer ons kon jou nie weer kom sien nie. Sterkte!
What a heavy experience… and to catch it on film, too. It gave me the chills. I know you’ll be back in the water where you belong soon, brother.
Wishing you a speedy recovery,
Mike
Hey James
Must be a monster blow for you and thank goodness for those like-souls on the beach.
Take it easy long enough to make sure you get back in there.
Your generosity in sharing your experience will help us all comprehend that every wave is a privilege.
Take care & speedy recovery
Força James! Boa recuperação Bro!
Positive Vibes from Brazil!
ALOHA
Ed
hope you heal soon brother, take care and hopefully see you in the water soon.
PEace
Hey! Cheers from Brazil, man! Take it easy, I´ll be riding some nice waves again soon.
Muita sorte, meu velho!
hi james good luck
Hey Boet! Sorry to hear….. Jean Tresfon passed on the website.
What can I say…..you play hard, you hurt hard. Very happy for you there is no nerve damage. Does make one think, though….Cannot for the life of me imagine you in bed for 6 weeks…..if I lived closer I would bring macoroni-cheese, roly -poly, polisie-koffie…..to try and make you smile ….and wait it out. Time heals, thank goodness! Hang in there!
xx hug hilana
Hey James, WOW…so grateful that the Lord had his hand on you!!! Keep focused and working hard at regaining your strength.
GB
Manfred and Judes
Hi there J, the thought that you are going to surf again(and will) is the best medicine you can wish for-that will speed up your recovery. The power of positive thinking is the healer. thought for the day “Think surfing”. Good Luck and GOD bless.
James:
We’ve never met, I’m one of Cristy’s older cousins, I live in Hawaii (Hilo) and enjoy surfing as well (in a much more moderate way though). Bummed to read about your accident, wish you a fast recovery. Hang Loose….
Good Luck James.
Take it easy. Consider yourself a lucky a guy !
Good Healing Process.
Ozi
Brasil
you`ve gut the guts to face those monster waves…so you also have them to face your rehab. you`ll be surfing sooner than you think. good luck and get well
Scary stuff, just wanted to wish you all the best in your recovery.
What sort of position were you in as you impacted bottom?
Hello James,
I am a local resident in west beach and body board with my mates who stay in Melkbos. I love the sea and can imagine how frustrated you must be ti get back into the surf.
Hang in there mate. Focus on getting well and strenthening your body. You never got to where you where without focus. Stick to plan and vasbyt. I hope and pray you will make a speady recovery. All the best and remember to stay strong and focussed. Cheers, Craig
Hi James
When I was 23 (1975) I had to have a spinal fusion due to a crumbling vertebra (Lumber4). In those days it meant being flat on my back for a month and then in a big, cumbersome, metal and leather back brace for 9 months. Today they have spinal fusions on their feet on day 2 or 3 and back home in a week to 10 days.
I can reassure you that I have put my back through the mill since then, from carrying railway sleepers in the dead of night, to surfing and paddling skis, so you can be sure that if you stick to the program, you will be as right as before and back in the water in what will seem like no time at all. Just don’t be impatient. Good luck.
Hi James, I know this is hard, i’ve been there. But two years down the line i can just say be patient, get the help you need and it all will turn out fine at the end. I’m sure my brace was useless at the end? I haven’t had an update on your situation and what happened at the end, but shout if you need an ear or someone just to come and make you a cup of tea one morning. Alles van die beste(r).
James,
Older people get these compression fractures quite often due to cancer and osteoporosis. Docs who do not want these patients to have 6 weeks of bedrest, muscle atrophy and bone wasting will suggest a simple out-patient procedure called Balloon Kyphoplasty. Research it on the web. I have personally seen amazing results in the elderly population (no pain the day following procedure) and it may be a benefit to you. However, you look young and will probably tolerate bedrest and recovery better then the elderly. Just thought you’d like to know that conservative care with analgesics in not your only option.
Keep surfing!
Hey James,
Just want to wish you best of luck with your recovery and rehab, you will be pulling in again before you know it, wishing you a speedy recovery man
Get better soon,fast healing and lot’s rest! Speak to you. Graham.
James,
Wow life can be very heavy at times. Keep your spirits high! Stay positive. Its the best thing you can do. Ill keep you in my thoughts. See you back in the water asap! Aloha Jamie sterling
P.S. Great job at capturing the nightmare on film! Check this link of my blog http://jamiesterling.wordpress.com/ My wipeout from Waimea that ended my winter. I had the go pro filming as well.
Animo James, esperamos verte pronto saliendo de esos tubos interminables…
a hug from the Basque country
Hi James. Jammer oor die ongeluk. Alle beterskap. Hoop om jou gou weer op die been te sien.
Beste.
Philip (Ilze se boet)
Hi James, I’ve seen the bad new in a basque surf web (www.alaplaya.com) and I want to bring you all the energy for an early recovery. The video has shocked me, specially when you arrives to the sand. Relax and good & healthy meals. I’m, sure that you’ll go on your favorite waves soon. Regards from the Basque Country!!
WOW James I am speechless! You seemed so calm in the water paddling back to shore, I wish you a miraculous recovery and lots of TLC.
Hi James – Wishing you a speedy recovery and am sure you will be back in the water soon. Take it easy – Our prayers are with you…
Horrible tale but great storytelling James … thanks for sharing. Nice to hear your voice and know that you have good friends around you. Wishing you all the best in your recovery. I know you’ll come back even stronger! Be well and know you have many people over in the US thinking of you too.
Heavy!!!! wish you the best. Surfing can be sccaarryy
I’m an old lady who just digs surfing, mavericks, the whole shebang. Dude. I am sad to see this footage and even sadder to learn that you have to endure such pain and a long (dry) recovery. However, I love your attitude and your willingness to share your experience with all of us. Take care, listen to your body, do what you need to do. Keep positive and work hard. Know that somewhere in the middle of the Mojave Desert is an old lady who will think of you often and pray for your healing and swift recovery.
God Bless and keep you, this is what I always understood the brotherhood of surfing to be, looking out for each other. Godspeed in your recovery, and that you may post again the progress you’ve made in stages til you’re fully healed.
Celia G
Hey James, it’s Greg Broderick. Tim West’s buddy from Half MoonBay. Good luck on your recovery. I had almost the same thing happen to me doing tow-ins with tim in 2007. You’ll be fine man just take it easy right now and get a lot of good physical therapy. My girlfriend had to help me out of bed every day. I had a burst fracture of my L1 which was pretty bad and I’m still surfing with no problems. You just have to take it easy for a while. Stretching and having a strong core has helped me get back on top of my game again. The boredom gets to you sometimes but when youre able to get around you’ll be stoked. I got a nice camera and took pictures of my friends so even though I could not be out there with my friends I could at least be at the beach with them. The road to recovery might seem long but keep in mind you’ll be out in the water in no time. Focus on the task at hand to recover and always remember you broke your back doing what we all love to do! If you have any questions I’d be happy to help even if I’m thousands of miles. My e-mail is Groggyb@gmail.com good luck brew!
James hang in there. I broke my L3, L4 and hip body surfing one day while taking a break from surfing. I wish I had people on the beach that were as helpful and knowledgeable as the people that you had come help you. Hang in there and take it easy. You will be back on the board before you know it.
Stay stong James and praying on a fast recovery for you.
Cameron Coetzer
Hey James, so sorry to hear about your accident, but am stoked that you are ok and in time will be good as new again!! Will keep you in my prayers and pop in and see you sometime soon..
You have done us all proud!!!
Aloha my bru
I feel your pain, hectic footage bra, it scare the shit out of me!!
Wishing you a fast recovery James!
James, this is SO super gnarly. What a heavy experience. All the best for a speedy recovery. We suspect you will be back again sooner than expected.
Hey James,
We wish you a quick and complete healing. God Bless.
John and Matt Bromley
don’t really know you, but just wanna wish you speedy recovery! went to dunes 2 weekends ago with my brother, and his mate, but i decided not to paddle out after seeing some nasty wipes. heavy wave
Jimmy, you will be pulling in again soon enough
Sterkte my Bra!