A young man had his beloved mountain bike stolen after falling from it and breaking his back.
Jon McClen could have been left paralysed after flying off his bike at Hollywell Dene in Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, on Sunday. The 19-year-old had been performing a jump when the accident happened.
As soon as he landed on the ground, he knew his back was broken. Jon was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery to have a metal rod and 12 screws inserted into his spine.
While he was receiving emergency treatment, his bike was stolen from his friend at the scene of the accident.
Jon, from Gosforth, Newcastle, said: "It was my first ride of the day and I just got unlucky. I have been riding my bike for six years doing jumps and I was within the limit of what I can do.
"As soon as I landed, I was screaming, I knew it was highly likely that I had broken my back. The first words I managed to get out were ‘I have broken my back’.
"I have been riding bikes for a while and I have heard about different injuries. I knew I needed to stay still or I could have been paralysed.
"The doctor said he’s not seen anybody with this kind of break who is not paralysed. I feel very lucky, I think it’s come down to the fact that I’ve managed to stay still."
Jon, who plans to study computer science at Northumbria University, is currently working as a cycle mechanic. He has spent years building his dream bike and has worked hard to buy all of the parts.
Jon had just completed his bike, which is estimated to be worth around £2,500, and was riding it when the accident happened. He left it with a friend, who he was meeting that day, and couldn't believe it when he was told that someone had stolen it.
He said: "Ever since I first got into bikes there were certain parts that I thought were really cool. The bike was finally an accumulation of everything I ever wanted to have. I spent so much time on it.
"I thought it was so crazy that someone would do that. They have taken it from someone on the floor."
Jon's partner Antonia Graham was at the scene when he fell from his bike. The 19-year-old, who is studying for a degree in History at Newcastle University, held his hand until the paramedics arrived.
She said: "He just went flying off on his first jump and crashed to the ground. He stopped dead and just started screaming. Everyone ran up to him. He was saying 'I have broken my back, can you please call an ambulance'."
"There were a group of young lads there who started doing crowd control. They were getting people to get away from him to give him some space. Some of them gave him blankets and hoodies to try to keep him comfortable, they were absolute stars."
Antonia said Jon was given painkillers, put on a scoop and transferred into an ambulance.
He was initially taken to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington, Northumberland, to be examined before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle.
She said: "At that point he hadn't sat up or moved from the position he'd landed in.
"We left his bike with his friend that he'd met up with that day. He messaged me and said 'I'm so sorry but the bike has been stolen'.
"As soon as I got that message I burst into tears. I didn't know what to do, I felt so awful for him. He's been working non-stop for the last few months saving up money and he's bought some of the parts for his bike.
"It was his dream bike and he'd finally been able to build it."
Jon underwent surgery at the RVI on Tuesday to have the metal rod and screws inserted into his spine. Within just two days, he was able to sit up and walk around the hospital ward.
On Friday, he was discharged from hospital to recover at home. Due to the metal rod in his spine, Jon's movement is currently limited. However he will have the rod removed from his spine in 12 months time.
Antonia, who is from Spennymoor, County Durham, said: "It's been some of the most stressful days of my life, it's been absolutely horrific. I'm just glad that I've been able to be there for him.
"He was told he was so brave for not moving. If he had moved he would have been paralysed. It's very rare that someone goes into the hospital with a case as bad as this and doesn't get paralysed.
"He's so thankful he's able to move really. He said he feels so lucky."
Antonia, who has been in a relationship with Jon for almost two-and-a-half years, has set up an Go Fund Me page in the hope of raising enough enough money to replace his bike.
More than £300 has been donated to the online fundraising page. She added: "He really enjoys mountain biking, it's one of his favourite hobbies. It's devastating that that has been taken away from him.
"I just want, as his partner, for that to be given back to him. I want to be able to buy him a new one.
"I would like to reiterate how grateful I am to everyone that has been involved. It's really nice that the community has come together to help him."
The theft of Jon's bike has been reported to Northumbria Police. A spokesperson for the force said: "At about 8pm on Sunday (June 11) we received a report of a bike theft in Holywell Dene, Seaton Sluice.
"Anyone with information is asked to contact police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20230611-1109."
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