Neurosurgeons at the “St. George” UMBAL put the injured paragliders near Sopot back on their feet, they are leaving the hospital room and returning to their homeland, the medical facility reports.
52-year-old Benjamin and 68-year-old Richard come to Bulgaria to go paragliding. They are not together, but on the same day, two hours apart, they both fall and injure themselves badly. After a signal was given, they were put on a Cougar helicopter from the air base in Krumovo and placed in the largest Emergency Department for Southern Bulgaria – at the “St. George” UMBAL EAD – Plovdiv.
The very next day they were operated on.
“Both fell badly, and for one there was a danger to life. Richard had two broken vertebrae and Benjamin one, but his condition was more serious because there was a risk of spinal cord injury. His surgical intervention lasted 3 hours. He was operated on with imposed stabilization, which will be removed in about a year after a control scan,” says leading neurosurgeon Dr. Borislav Kalnev, who operated on the victims. According to him, Richard was suitable for vertebroplasty, which was successful. After the operation, the patient is fully restored, no complaints, no difficulties.
“I didn’t get scared because there was no time for that. I even felt the pain later. I am happy that I came across these doctors because they are very good. They responded very quickly, which is commendable. Our operations were successful. They did a great job and thanks to that we can go home,” said Benjamin, the other injured paraglider. He lives in Hampshire with his wife. He has two children – a 25-year-old boy and a 22-year-old girl. The family is very worried because of the accident, but this weekend Benjamin is also flying to England.
“Now they are both on their feet, which is the most important thing,” assured Dr. Kalnev.
Benjamin served 29 years in the Royal Air Force, working with helicopters, but has been involved in finance and HR for several years. He and Richard, 68, from Dorset, had never met before.
“We will continue to see each other and fly together, thanks to the medical care in Plovdiv”, specifies Benny.
