Australian cycling ace Jay Vine has revealed his high emotion at being able to take his first steps towards recovery after the dreadful crash he feared might prevent him ever walking ever again.
The 28-year-old Canberra-based rider, who suffered a fractured skull and vertebrae in his high-speed spill into a roadside concrete ditch at the Itzulia Basque Country race last week, revealed that he's been able to take his first tentative steps around his hospital ward in Spain after a "scary" period of uncertainty about his future.
Meanwhile, Vine's wife Bre, a former cyclist herself who is pregnant with the couple's first child, hailed his avoidance of an even more serious injury as a "miracle".
"I'm tracking as well as can be expected, I have been able to walk around my room with the aid of a walker, and taking the first step was pretty emotional after what I've been through," Vine said in an Instagram post.
"Just can't believe that I will still be able to walk and play with my kids one day, it was pretty scary for a couple of days when we weren't sure if surgery or neurological problems might present themselves.
"Long road ahead for my recovery, but I am looking forward to getting the process rolling."
Vine was left relieved when medics ruled he wouldn't need surgery on the injuries he suffered in a high-speed spill on a descent at last week's Itzulia Basque Country race.
A group of other big-name riders, including double Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard and double world champ Remco Evenepoel, also suffered bad injuries in the same crash.
"Across the past few days the doctors/specialists have stressed to us, just how lucky Jay is to have 'only' these injuries, and nothing permanent/more life altering, whilst explaining what could have happened," explained Bre.
"Which to be honest, was daunting for us both to hear, we knew how close he was, but having it properly explained definitely puts things into perspective - Jay is VERY lucky.
"Don't get me wrong, multiple fractured vertebrae and a fractured skull is very serious, but the fact that Jay didn't do more damage is honestly a miracle.
"Jay has been able to take his first few steps! As you can imagine there was a big wave of emotions from both of us when he was upright and able to step forward (very carefully).
"Even our little baby was excited that Jay was walking, so much so, Jay could feel them kicking in my belly for the first time."
