Retired Cyclist Defies Odds, Regains Mobility After Freak Accident

In February 2023, 69-year-old Nick Ashdown, a retired business analyst from East Yorkshire, suffered a devastating spinal injury during a freak accident while staying at a lodge with friends to celebrate his son's upcoming wedding. Ashdown was left completely paralyzed from the neck down, a terrifying experience he describes as "the scariest moment" of his life.

After being rushed to the hospital, Ashdown spent around two months undergoing treatment and intensive physiotherapy. Despite being told there was a "good chance" he would remain permanently paralyzed, Ashdown was determined to regain his mobility. By October 2023, he was able to "just" walk, though not brilliantly.

Ashdown's recovery has been nothing short of remarkable. In March 2025, he discovered Jorvik Tricycles, an adult tricycle manufacturer, which has enabled him to get back in the saddle. Ashdown and his wife Cheryl, who used to cycle between 250 and 300 miles per week before the accident, have now completed rides of up to 25 miles on the electric tricycle. While Ashdown has not yet attempted to ride a regular bicycle, he is confident he will do so "without a doubt" as part of his ongoing journey to fully regain his independence and active lifestyle.