Doctor paralysed after breaking spine when his bike 'sheared in two' awarded £4.5million
A doctor who broke his spine and became paralysed after his brand new bike fell apart while going down a hill has won £4.5million in compensation.
Dr Daniel Gordon, 31, suffered life-changing injuries when the forks of his £2,300 all-terrain gravel bike 'sheared in two' in Inverness in August 2020.
Dr Gordon, who was working as a junior doctor at Raigmore Hospital, was only travelling at around 15mph before the bike collapsed beneath him, throwing him to the ground.
He underwent spinal surgery and then months of rehabilitation, but the extensive injuries have left him with no use of his lower body and reliant on a wheelchair.
Dr Gordon initially launched a bid for £10million in compensation from the insurers behind Yorkshire-based bike company Planet X.
But ahead of a five day hearing set to start this week, it was agreed that Dr Gordon should receive a settlement in the sum of £4.5million.
The sum was agreed following negotiations between the parties and includes provision for Dr Gordon to return to court for further damages if further injuries are caused by a spinal cyst.
Dr Gordon sustained the life-changing spinal cord injury when the front forks of a Planet X Tempest SRAM Force 1 titanium bike sheared in two on a grass slope.
He brought his claim initially against the seller of the bicycle, Planet X.
But after the company was declared insolvent in 2023, his lawyers pursued the claim against its insurers, Arch Insurance (UK) Limited and Chubb European Group SE, who initially rejected the doctor's claims.
Planet X described the £2,300 gravel bike purchased by Dr Gordon in 2020 as a 'go-anywhere' bicycle, adding that 'the only thing Tempest doesn't have is limits'.
The defendants claimed this was 'marketing puff' and should not have been relied upon by Dr Gordon.
They also claimed the bike was subject to an American standard of classification for bikes, which meant it should not be ridden over any jumps or drops of more than 15 centimetres.
However, there was no mention of this on the company's website or in the manual for the bike.
During previous proceedings, it emerged that testing by the parties' respective experts found that the carbon fibre forks on Dr Gordon's bike were materially thinner and weaker than two exemplar forks provided by the manufacturer.
Since the incident, Dr Gordon has taken up hand cycling, completing the hand cycling tour of Mallorca in 2022 and the London Marathon in 2025.
Last year, he married his fiancée, Dr Laura Colacino and went on honeymoon to Peru, which included a visit to the historic ruin site of Machu Picchu.
His claim was supported by law firm Stewarts.
Dr Gordon said: 'Despite a catastrophic and life-changing injury, I've been fortunate enough to be supported by Stewarts in pursuing a claim against Planet X's insurers, the result of which means my future care and accommodation needs can be met.
'Stewarts have been exceptionally proficient, compassionate and offered me clear guidance through an incredibly difficult, complex and personally challenging time.
'I also have to thank Ewan Stirling, a friend and coach who first noticed the unusual way in which the fork sheared, without whom I would likely not have taken any action.
'I hope now to be able to move forwards and show that despite this injury, life can still be rewarding and fulfilling.'
Stewarts International Injury partner Julian Chamberlayne said: 'It has been a privilege to represent Danny Gordon and to achieve this settlement, which will help him fund his needs following his spinal injury.
'He has shown huge strength of character in not allowed this life changing injury to stop him from returning to work with the NHS, and in his determination to continue cycling, now using a hand bike.
'This case has highlighted that the regulation, testing and manufacture of gravel bikes warrants closer attention, to ensure they are safe for the adventurous use that is shown in their advertising and expected by purchasers.'
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