By Bridget Brady
FREESTYLE motorbike rider Cam Sinclair is lucky to be alive after a sickening fall in Madrid when he under-rotated his trademark double-black flip.
The Botanic Ridge resident is in intensive care after he ruptured his liver, broke his shoulder, cheek bone and was knocked unconscious during the Red Bull X Fighters series in Madrid on Friday.
But Mr Sinclair, 25, originally from Pearcedale, has shown positive signs of improvement.
Friend and manager Adam Bailey said there were initial concerns about brain damage but it now seemed there was no serious harm and hoped he would be out of intensive care in a few days.
“He had some swelling in his brain and smashed his liver up pretty badly,” Mr Bailey said.
“There was a lot of internal bleeding and he had emergency surgery as soon as it happened, which saved his life really.”
Mr Bailey, who left for Madrid on Monday, said it was a “huge relief” Mr Sinclair was no longer in an induced coma and, despite not being able to talk, said Mr Sinclair had shown some signs of the “normal Cam”.
“His fiancé, Brooke, told him ‘no more motorbikes’ and he frowned. At least we know he is switched on enough.
“It took my breath away for the first couple of minutes when reality set in just how serious this accident was and how lucky he is. But considering, he looks really well.
“You can see in his face it hurts to move at all, and he is still unable to talk,” Mr Bailey said on Tuesday.
It was somewhat uncharacteristic for Mr Sinclair to have a serious fall because he was known in the freestyle motorbike world as being a calculated rider, Mr Bailey said.
“He’s never had a fall likethis. He has only ever broken two bones and for someone who does what he does that is amazing. He is well known for being extremely talented and doesn’t make many mistakes.”
Mr Bailey said the messages of support for Mr Sinclair from around the world were overwhelming.
“The support has been amazing. There have been emails from all over the world, some from eight-year-old kids.”
Spill levels thrillseeker
Digital Editions
-
16 local girls in Vic Country squad
A whopping 13 of the 23 players to turn out in Vic Country’s first game of the Under-18 Girls National Championships were locals. Seven Dandenong…