Fundraiser for rider left paralysed after Longnor Races

The incident happened earlier in the month when Sean Vose was competing at the annual event at Waterhouse Farm, Longnor.

Sean came off his bike and was airlifted the Royal Stoke Hospital where he needed seven hours of spinal surgery and then put in an induced coma.

However, doctors said he had fractured and dislocated his spine, severing his spinal cord leaving him paralysed from the chest down and he will need to spend the rest of his life using a wheel chair.

Health and safety law for motocross is enforced by the relevant local authority and a spokesman for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council confirmed that an investigation is taking place.

News of Sean’s accident has shook the motorcross community and a fundraiser has been set up to help the 29-year-old who is a dad to five-year-old Tommy.

Fundraiser organiser Nicci Cooper said: “We still can’t believe what has happened, Sean’s whole life has changed in a second.

“We knew it was bad straight away because he kept hitting his legs and saying he couldn’t feel anything.”
After taking a hiatus from the sport for several years he returned at the start of this year and came third in the AMCA Northern Area Expert championships and was due to compete in a national competition the day after Longor Races.

His partner Amy Woolstencroft was at home in Stalybridge but was called by surgeons before they took him into theatre to tell her to get there as quick as she could.

Nicci said: “It’s only been days since it happened but Amy has been amazing she has been such a rock for Sean and Tommy.

“She has chosen to give up work to become his carer but with no money coming in it is going to be even tougher on the family than it would have been other wise which is why we set the fundraiser up.

“He will be able to get some treatment on the NHS but we want to create a security blanket which not only looks after his little family but also has enough money in for private treatments, physiotherapies if he needs them and home modifications.”

She added: “The motorcross community has pulled together to support one of our own who is such a kind and funny person and right now he needs all the support he can get.”

A spokesman for Longnor Races said: “After the sad news that fellow rider Sean Vose is now paralysed after his accident at the races the winners from the races have decided to offer their support to him and donate all the winning prize money to Sean to help him in the future.

“Our thoughts are with Sean and his family.”

To donate to Sean’s fundraiser click here.