Aspiring teen jockey who was paralysed when she fell 14ft off a wall as she took a selfie vows to ride again
The 17-year-old hopes to overcome her disability and ride horses again with the help a specially-made saddle
AN aspiring teen jockey is determined to ride a horse again after being left partially paralysed when she fell from a wall while trying to take a selfie.
Kelsey Bainbridge, 17, of Durham, broke her neck in four separate places after falling backwards off a 14ft wall as she tried to take a picture of herself.
The teen was rushed to hospital where she also suffered a collapsed lung and was put into an induced coma for 10 days.
She spent almost 17 weeks in hospital following the accident which happened in 2014.
Doctors classified her paralysis as C5 tetraplegic incomplete - which means that her condition could improve.
Kelsey’s family were by her side throughout her ordeal.
Her mum, Suzanne Bainbridge, 40, said: “It was heartbreaking to see her in that state. I couldn't believe what happened, it was so scary.
“Horse-riding was a really big passion for Kelsey. When she was in hospital, she asked me ‘Will I be able to ride a horse again, mum?’ I couldn't face talking to her about it, and just said, ‘Yes, you will’."
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Two years on, with the help of regular hydro and physiotherapy, the fighting teen can now walk short distances with the help of a leg splint and crutch but still needs the use of a wheelchair.
She told : "The left side of my body is almost back to normal; I can move my head and neck, and left arm and leg fully.
“But my right side was affected much worse. I have trouble moving my arm, can’t move my hand, and have no hip or ankle movement in my right side.
"I've come a long way since the accident – the doctors said I’d have a 50/50 chance of ever walking again, so I was determined to do it."
Now she hopes to overcome her disability and ride horses again with the help a specially-made saddle.
She has set up a to help her raise £1,500 to buy one.
Kelsey added: "I’m sick of being stuck inside the house not being able to do anything. I can’t work, and my friends have stopped inviting me out because they know how difficult it is for me to do things.
“Horse-riding is what I love to do. It’d make me feel like me again."
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