Former Police Officer Left Paralysed After Mountain Biking Accident on Italian Holiday
A retired firearms officer has been left with life-changing injuries after a devastating mountain bike accident while on holiday in Italy. Neil Wilson, 56, from Dumfries, was paralysed from the shoulders down following the crash in September.
The Fateful Ride in Finale Ligure
The father of three, who previously worked as a mountain bike coach, was ascending a trail in Finale Ligure on 13 September when tragedy struck. Neil described the conditions as wet as he attempted to overtake another rider near a cliff edge.
"I pressed a bit too hard with my left foot and my back wheel slid," Neil recounted. "As it slid, my back wheel went over the edge and I went down with it. I must have fallen around 14ft and during the crash, my neck snapped back."
The impact was so severe that it created a hole in his helmet. Neil immediately lost all sensation below his shoulders upon hitting the ground.
Emergency Response and Medical Treatment
Following the accident, emergency services airlifted Neil to a hospital in northern Italy where he was sedated before being flown back to Scotland. He was admitted to the National Spinal Unit at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where surgeons inserted several titanium pins into his neck.
After spending months in the spinal unit, Neil was discharged in December and now resides at Lochleven Care Home near Lockerbie. He has been diagnosed with a complete spinal injury, meaning there is no prospect of recovery from the paralysis.
"I suffered a complete injury, so that means there is no coming back from it and I will be paralysed from the shoulders down for the rest of my life," Neil explained. "I can feel my shoulders, but I can't feel anything below that."
Adapting to New Circumstances and Community Support
Neil currently uses a chin-controlled powered wheelchair and hopes to eventually return home to live independently once a suitable care plan is established. Meanwhile, his friends and the mountain biking community have rallied to support him.
A fundraising campaign aims to purchase an off-road power quad - an adapted bike that would allow Neil to return to the trails he loves. The specialised equipment would enable him to walk his dog, Jura, and access local paths that his standard wheelchair cannot navigate.
"Mountain biking has always been a huge part of my life," said Neil, who turned his passion into a coaching business after retiring from Police Scotland following 27 years of service. "It has been a hard thing to give up. My accident has changed my life, but I don't want it to take my passion away."
The former officer expressed deep emotion at the support he has received from the mountain biking community, describing their response as remarkable. He remains determined to regain his sense of freedom despite the catastrophic nature of his injuries.
"I was very unlucky with the crash, but it's just one of those things," Neil reflected. "It would be great to get back out and about again and get my sense of freedom back."
The fundraising initiative highlights how Neil's adventurous spirit endures despite his paralysis. Supporters hope to help him reclaim his independence and continue pursuing outdoor activities through adapted equipment that would allow him to explore trails and rediscover his happy place in the hills.
