Doctor paralysed after breaking spine when his bike 'sheared in two' awarded £4.5million
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Sun
Blind 99-year-old tragically died after spilling hot tea onto herself as daughter slams nursing home
A BLIND 99-year-old with her heart set on reaching one hundred, has died after being scolded by a cup of tea, an inquest hears. Margaret Eluned Roberts suffered severe burns after the piping hot black tea spilled onto her at a nursing home in Anglesey, Wales. 2 Today, an inquest into the elderly woman's death heard the burn contributed to Mrs Roberts catching a chest infection. She died roughly five weeks after the incident. However, a senior coroner has concluded that the death was accidental. The pensioner's daughter has slammed Glan Rhos nursing home in a recent statement. Linda Pritchard explained that she received a phone call soon after the incident occurred. She said she asked "why did they give a blind lady hot black tea?" Kate Robertson, senior coroner for north west Wales, found that Mrs Roberts died from pneumonia and cellulitis secondary to a burn. Ms Robertson also found that old age, asthma and ischaemic heart disease were contributing factors. Sarah Thomas, a healthcare assistant at Glan Rhos nursing home in Brynsiencyn, who handed Mrs Roberts the cup of black tea, said she knew she was registered blind. She gave the tea to Mrs Roberts in a plastic, two-handed beaker on September 22 last year, insisting that the pensioner was very independent and "wanted to drink the cup of tea herself." Dad, 54, found dead behind garden shed by his wife – two days after freak chainsaw accident The healthcare assistant went on to explain that she watched Mrs Roberts sip the drink through a straw in the spout then moved away. The inquest heard, that moments later, she spilt the tea on herself at around 7pm. Ms Thomas claims she didn't hear a scream. Jo Reavey, a nurse, said in a statement that she heard "Eluned shouting in an urgent tone." She explained that she found her "distraught with her arms raised" and the beaker "upside down" with "black tea on her trousers." The wound started blistering as staff frantically put cold towels on it. An ambulance was called at 7.51pm and arrived at Glan Rhos nursing home at about 10pm. Mrs Roberts was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor. The wound was initially eight per cent of her body weight but after reddening reduced it was classified as four per cent. At the hospital, the pensioner's blisters were lanced and her wound was dressed before being discharged. She later returned to the nursing home, however soon after, developed chest problems. On October 7, Mrs Roberts daughter asked for her mother to be readmitted to Ysbyty Gwynedd. Doctor Abdul Azu, a consultant physician, told the inquest her condition was not improving. She died there on October 28, about five weeks after the scalding. Doctor Azu is confident that the burn contributed to the chest infection and her declining health. The coroner Mrs Robertson, said Mrs Roberts died on October 28 'as a result of the medical conditions which were precipitated by the burn injury sustained on her leg.' She said the spillage had been 'unintended and accidental' and gave the cause of death of Mrs Roberts as an accident. Mrs Robertson told Mrs Pritchard: 'Mam wanted to reach 100-years-old. It would have been such a significant milestone for her and for you.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
NHS staff sickness rate highest for 10 years as levels rise in 18 Scottish health boards
Scotland's struggling NHS is facing even more pressure after it emerged sickness rates among staff have reached the highest level for ten years. A new report revealed the rate for 2024-25 was 6.4 per cent – up from 6.2 per cent the previous year. The NHS Education for Scotland report showed that was 'the highest rate in the past ten years'. It comes after the Scottish Tories claimed patients are 'dying needlessly' as A&E departments see waiting times worsening amid fears of a winter disaster. The latest worrying sickness rates come despite the fact that in 2009 the Scottish Government set a national target which aimed to reduce the NHS staff absence rate to 4 per cent. However, new figures for the year to the end of March showed that sickness absence rates decreased in four NHS boards and increased in 18. At the Scottish Ambulance Service, the sickness absence rate increased by 0.8 per cent to 9.7 per cent – the highest sickness absence rate of any health board. The data showed the health service employed 161,333.8 whole time equivalent (WTE) staff – up 0.1 per cent on the previous year. That included 67,714.6 WTE nursing and midwifery staff, with the number of absences amongst this group falling by 23.1 per cent to 2,601.2 WTE posts. As well as that, the figures detailed a reduction in spending on bank and agency staff. Spending on agency medical and dental staff dropped by 16.7 per cent to £108million. The bill for agency and bank nursing staff fell for the first time, to £410million, with this linked to falling spending on agency workers. The report said: 'After more than doubling in a three-year period, total nursing bank and agency expenditure decreased during the past year.' A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Our aim is to limit all agency use as much as possible.' It comes as Public Health Scotland revealed more than a third of patients were not seen within the four-hour target last week in Scotland's A&E departments. Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said the figures were 'nothing short of disgraceful'. He said: 'How many more families need to lose loved ones before John Swinney and Neil Gray finally come up with a plan to address this crisis?' The proportion of patients admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours fell from 66.9 to 64.9 per cent last week, even though attendances were fractionally down. Mr Gray said: 'I know that some people are still waiting too long for treatment, and I am determined to drive improvement.' Other figures showed a 3.2 per cent increase in cancer deaths over the past decade, with lung cancer was the most common killer.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Expert reveals common kitchen spices that can kill most viruses and cure colds
An herbal practitioner has shared the plants that he claims are more effective than prescribed medicines. Herbalist Simon Mills appeared on The Diary of a CEO with host Steven Bartlett recently, where he listed his go-to herbal medicines. The author insisted that there are a few common kitchen spices that can combat everything from a common cold to cardiovascular problems. He credited ginger, chili, turmeric, cinnamon and garlic as the household ingredients that can kill most viruses. He also detailed the natural remedy that he claims can cure a cold, involving only ginger and cinnamon. Ginger root is said to contain several healing properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, raising body temperature. To effectively use it to combat a cold, Mills said to grate about a 'thumb's size' of the plant into a mug. He then combines it with a stick of cinnamon, which contains healing properties such as digestive support, respiratory relief, menstrual symptoms in women, as well as helping to ease other pain. 'You either grate that if you have a spice mill or you take a teaspoon of already dried spice,' he explained. From there, Mills said he adds hot water, letting it sit for a few minutes before straining it into a separate mug. 'You can feel it warning straight away,' he said. He explained that when you ingest ginger or other similar 'hot plants,' it can help clear out sinuses since ginger contributes to hyperemia - a reflex response to open the blood vessels. Mills said this in turn causes the cells producing mucus to loosen up and can even bring up phlegm from the lungs. 'There's a natural escalator that the body uses to get stuff out of the lungs that [get]s stimulated,' he shared. Mills also said he uses spices like ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric as his 'main go-to' to help fend off cardiovascular problem. In addition, he explained that if you cut turmeric in half, you get curcumin - which acts as an anti-inflammatory. The herb enthusiast also spoke of the benefits of garlic, explaining that when eating raw, the vegetable is a 'very powerful prebiotic' and can help the gut flora. '[I] encourage people not to ask the doc for an antibiotic and use some of these at-home, easy, and free treatments instead,' he said. Although much of the research into herbs and spices as medicine is still in an early stage – and often uses concentrated extracts or large doses you wouldn't get from a normal meal – there are signs that everyday amounts could give your long-term health a boost. The FDA considers herbal supplements as foods, not medicines, so they are not subject to the same testing, manufacturing, and labeling standards and regulations as medicines. According to John Hopkins Medicine, herbal supplements can interact with conventional medicines and may have strong effects. Doctors advise people not to self-diagnose or self-prescribe, and to talk with your healthcare provider before taking herbal supplements.
