A Scots mum has told how she is “lucky to be alive” after splitting her head open in five places in a horror quad bike crash with no helmet.
Dana Neil, 44, was riding the machine at speeds of up to 80mph near her home in Dunfermline, Fife, when the terrifying collision took place on Friday, April 24. While attempting to slow the bike down over a grassy verge, she accidentally hit the accelerator before smashing into a wall, flipping over the handlebars and landing on her head.
She was knocked unconscious and rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where she was hospitalised for two days.
4View 4 ImagesMedics had to put 20 staples in Dana’s head(Image: Supplied)
4View 4 ImagesBlood pouring from Dana’s head(Image: Supplied)
Speaking to the Record, Dana recalled: “Not putting on a helmet that day is the most stupid thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was my friend’s new quad bike and they asked if I wanted a shot, so I stupidly jumped on without even thinking of a helmet.
“I was reaching very high speeds and as I tried to slow down, I panicked and accidentally hit the accelerator instead. I ended up flying into a wall and I was toppled into the air and landed directly onto the ground on my head.
“After that, I don’t remember a thing.”
Paramedics arrived at Dana’s home before administering the mum with morphine and racing her to hospital in the capital via ambulance. Images show Dana being stretchered into the emergency vehicle in a neck brace with blood pouring from her head.
She was treated for a significant trauma to her head, including five splits and swelling to her brain. Medics put 20 staples into her skull to close the lacerations while one of her eyes also had to be glued shut.
She also suffered cuts and bruising across her entire body.
View 4 ImagesDana has used her story to raise awareness about the importance of wearing a helmet(Image: Supplied)
Dana said: “I’m lucky to be alive. Even now, my head still feels foggy and I’m struggling to string sentences together.
“That day, my life genuinely flashed before my eyes. I knew I was going into the fence and I thought I was going to die. I thought my life was over and all I could think of was my kids being without a mum.
“I have never had such a fright in my life. I brushed with death and I don’t know how I didn’t die, given how hard I hit the ground. I’m lucky to be alive, and I’ll never take that for granted. I now have a completely different outlook on life.”
Dana has shared her story to raise awareness of the importance of wearing a helmet during motorsports.
She said: “Why I got on that bike and didn’t wear a helmet will forever haunt me. I don’t know how I didn’t lose my life. I am sharing my experience because I would like to show others just how dangerous these machines can be.
“I would beg anyone reading this who is involved in any motorsport to please never doubt the importance of your helmet. I could have died last month – it is only by chance and luck that I’m still here.
“I want people to be aware that these sports and bikes are dangerous, they reach high speeds and that anything can happen. I could have been dead because I didn’t put a helmet on, I don’t want anyone else, especially kids, to take that risk. This whole ordeal has terrified me.”
Article continues below
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.