Statement from Paul Crake's parents
Peter and Elizabeth Crake,
the parents of cycling medallist and stairclimbing champion, Paul Crake,
29, from Canberra, have asked Cycling Australia to release the following
statement on their behalf.
Their son suffered spinal injuries in a freak crash when he was blown
off the road by a powerful wind gust during a stage of the Powernet Tour
of Southland in New Zealand last Saturday. He underwent surgery in
Christchurch hospital on Wednesday.
Statement from Peter and Elizabeth Crake.
"We would like to express our sincere thanks for the support and good
wishes we have received from the countless number of people from all
walks of life following Paul's cycling accident.
We would like to assure
all his friends that Paul, who underwent spinal surgery on Wednesday, is
progresing well and is fully aware of his condition. Despite the brutality of the
situation Paul has been spared and we still have our son. He is still
very much the Paul that everybody knows, loves and admires. What is in
front of him will be his greatest challenge yet.
We would also like to thank the medical staff here in New Zealand. Their
expertise and professionalism has been second to none and we owe his
survival to them. Last but not least thank you to Cycling Australia for
all the support and assistance we have received."
Paul Crake was a member of the Australian team at the
2004 Road World Championships in Italy, was third in the road race at
last year's Australian Open Road Championships and this year placed
second on the fourth stage of the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under into
Willunga. This season he has raced as a professional in Italy with the
Naturina Sapore di Mare team.
He switched from
stair-climbing to cycling in 2002. As a stairclimber he notched up five
straight victories in the annual sprint up the 86 flights of stairs
(1576 stairs) to the top of New York's Empire State Building between
1999 and 2003 and still holds the record for the fastest ascent of
9mins33secs.
For further
information (media only) please contact:
Gennie Sheer, Sheer Rhetoric - Communications Director, Cycling
Australia
Tel: +61 (0) 418 863
533
Email:gennie@compuserve.com