The Fateful Run.
A 393kb avi file of the speed run that ended in hospital.
October 3rd 2001 was a mixed day that began with a kitesurfing
world speed record
and ended in a tragic accident that nearly ended Chris's career.
Chris continues:
"It was a squally day with very gusty winds of up to 45 knots. I was using a 4m Blade after trying a massively overpowered 6.4 and then 4.9. I was still maxed as you can see from the video clip below. My girlfriend caught this clip (below) on my old camera. (Hence the poor quality). I had already set a kitesurfing record of 33.38 knots earlier on a warm up run. (I started slow off the line and finished bouncing on my ass because I needed to stop for a windsurfer on the finish line. That was an easy 33.38 knots. I figured 40 knots was in reach and decided to go all out. But over 35 knots I couldn't hold my rail anymore and was just accelerating out of control. I drifted out of my planned line and started losing vision from the way I was rattling over the water. I was on the edge of control and was just hoping to cross the finish line. Then through the blurred vision I just spotted a recreational windsurfer 40ft straight ahead, just sitting in the water. I let go of the kite or I would have ploughed into him. I fell face forward and expected to tumble but of course just bounced. Then my face penetrated the water and stopped. This let my board catch up with my face. The sharp tip of the speed board struck me across the cheek bone 1 cm below my right eye. It destroyed my right cheek bone and right eye socket (with the transferred shock) and it finished by smashing my nose into bits as it bounced away from my face. Luckily my eye was not too damaged but it was in a new position! I had double vision an loads of pain... I got back to the beach somehow and was off in an ambulance to find out the worst.
The Fateful Run.
A 393kb avi file of the speed run that ended in hospital.
X Ray. Taken 5 hours after the accident.
The right cheekbone is gone and with it the base of the eye socket.
Less clear is the smashed nose and a fracture to the eyebrow and skull.
Above and below: After the operation.
The base of the eye socket is replaced by titanium mesh which comes out and down
the face. The eye has been re-positioned as close as possible back where it
should be.
A plate held by 4 pins is visible on the right eyebrow (top left of picture).
There is a mesh fixing at the base of the nose as well. To do this they went
back in through the visible cuts plus also in through the roof of the gum in the
front of the mouth. You gotta laugh...!
Actually I couldn't.. the stitches had me all tied up! Especially those in the
mouth..!
Nowadays I am miraculously back to normal......see below:
I think they did a great job............... what?
Last Updated -
02/21/02