M
Mike Vandeman
Guest
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10513114:
Boy killed in crash loved his bike
5:00AM Thursday May 29, 2008
Doctors told Frazer McKinlay-Storey's family that he had suffered the
worst neck injury they had ever seen. Photo / BOP Times
As teenager Frazer McKinlay-Storey was about to slip into
unconsciousness, he managed to utter four words to his mother: "I love
you, Mum."
Frazer drifted off, on board a helicopter heading to Auckland's
Starship hospital. He didn't wake, and died two days later. He was
just 13.
Last Thursday, about 4.15pm, a mountain-biking accident at the
Tauranga BMX Club track at Sulphur Pt left him with a shattered neck.
The Tauranga Boys College student, who lived in Matua and had a
passion for mountain biking, fell and hit the ground at such an angle
that his neck shattered on impact.
"It wasn't a stunt or a jump ... it was just a berm that he was riding
around and didn't realise there was a drop off on one side," Frazer's
stepfather, Ross Bond, said yesterday. Frazer was to visit his father
in Auckland the next day and was having a last blast around the track.
He was equipped with a brand-new crash helmet, but no protective gear
could have saved him, Mr Bond said.
After the fall, a friend of his ran to get help and dialled 111. St
John Ambulance staff arrived shortly afterwards.
Frazer was conscious for 12 hours after the accident.
"The doctors there were saying it was the worst neck injury they've
seen on anyone because most people who have had that sort of accident
would have been killed outright. So for him to have been conscious for
12 hours was quite something," Mr Bond said.
Frazer's condition deteriorated on Friday _ his mother Charlotte
McKinlay's birthday _ and he was put on a ventilator before being
prepared for the trip to the Starship. He spoke to his mother before
being sedated for the 5pm flight. "The last thing he said was, `I love
you, Mum'. He never woke up," Mr Bond said.
At Starship, an MRI scan showed the severity of his injuries and
Frazer passed away peacefully on Sunday.
The family are devastated. "We're getting through it all, ups and
downs," Mr Bond said.
Frazer's passion for mountain biking was ignited when he bought a bike
at the beginning of the school year, his first at Tauranga Boys
College. It was the first he'd bought out of his own pocket.
"He lived for it. He'd come in and have breakfast wearing his helmet,"
Mr Bond said. "Anywhere he wanted to go ... we had to dismantle his
bike and put it in the car to take it with us."
Mr Bond said Frazer would be remembered as "a complete joker, bubbly,
outgoing and very generous."
"[He was] an absolute gem to be around, wise beyond his years. He was
a really good kid."
Tauranga Boys College Principal Robert Mangan said Frazer had been
making good progress and had just been moved up a class. "Our thoughts
and condolences are with the family in what is a very tragic
accident."
Tauranga BMX Club President Ash Rawson said the next club meeting on
the track would be in Frazer's honour.
Frazer's funeral will be in Auckland at Romaleigh Funeral Home, 31
Oceanview Rd, Northcote at midday tomorrow.
- NZPA
--
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)
Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande
Boy killed in crash loved his bike
5:00AM Thursday May 29, 2008
Doctors told Frazer McKinlay-Storey's family that he had suffered the
worst neck injury they had ever seen. Photo / BOP Times
As teenager Frazer McKinlay-Storey was about to slip into
unconsciousness, he managed to utter four words to his mother: "I love
you, Mum."
Frazer drifted off, on board a helicopter heading to Auckland's
Starship hospital. He didn't wake, and died two days later. He was
just 13.
Last Thursday, about 4.15pm, a mountain-biking accident at the
Tauranga BMX Club track at Sulphur Pt left him with a shattered neck.
The Tauranga Boys College student, who lived in Matua and had a
passion for mountain biking, fell and hit the ground at such an angle
that his neck shattered on impact.
"It wasn't a stunt or a jump ... it was just a berm that he was riding
around and didn't realise there was a drop off on one side," Frazer's
stepfather, Ross Bond, said yesterday. Frazer was to visit his father
in Auckland the next day and was having a last blast around the track.
He was equipped with a brand-new crash helmet, but no protective gear
could have saved him, Mr Bond said.
After the fall, a friend of his ran to get help and dialled 111. St
John Ambulance staff arrived shortly afterwards.
Frazer was conscious for 12 hours after the accident.
"The doctors there were saying it was the worst neck injury they've
seen on anyone because most people who have had that sort of accident
would have been killed outright. So for him to have been conscious for
12 hours was quite something," Mr Bond said.
Frazer's condition deteriorated on Friday _ his mother Charlotte
McKinlay's birthday _ and he was put on a ventilator before being
prepared for the trip to the Starship. He spoke to his mother before
being sedated for the 5pm flight. "The last thing he said was, `I love
you, Mum'. He never woke up," Mr Bond said.
At Starship, an MRI scan showed the severity of his injuries and
Frazer passed away peacefully on Sunday.
The family are devastated. "We're getting through it all, ups and
downs," Mr Bond said.
Frazer's passion for mountain biking was ignited when he bought a bike
at the beginning of the school year, his first at Tauranga Boys
College. It was the first he'd bought out of his own pocket.
"He lived for it. He'd come in and have breakfast wearing his helmet,"
Mr Bond said. "Anywhere he wanted to go ... we had to dismantle his
bike and put it in the car to take it with us."
Mr Bond said Frazer would be remembered as "a complete joker, bubbly,
outgoing and very generous."
"[He was] an absolute gem to be around, wise beyond his years. He was
a really good kid."
Tauranga Boys College Principal Robert Mangan said Frazer had been
making good progress and had just been moved up a class. "Our thoughts
and condolences are with the family in what is a very tragic
accident."
Tauranga BMX Club President Ash Rawson said the next club meeting on
the track would be in Frazer's honour.
Frazer's funeral will be in Auckland at Romaleigh Funeral Home, 31
Oceanview Rd, Northcote at midday tomorrow.
- NZPA
--
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)
Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande
