Re: [swovelin] Super Frenchie Accident- Anyone Know Anything?
I know something about this one. I was not there, but Matthias was opening a new ski base near his native Megeve. He did a front flip, opened, hit the wall and in doing so hit his head and broke his femur. We were worried about head trauma, but second hand reports are that the resilient monkey snapped right out of unconsciousness once the drugs wore off from his emergency femur surgery.
He was pretty uncomfortable in the hospital for about a week, but was in typically energetic and passionate spirits via text, email and phone during the second half of his hospital stay. Mostly he was just very eager to get home to his wife in USA and to begin healing.
Not sure the lessons to be learned here aside from a reminder to not hit walls when base jumping. In some cases people have wall strikes and can shrug them off like no big deal and in others you can die or be permanently injured.
Matthias is a really good ski base jumper and he was very current with ski base and his front flip is rock solid. He and I had just done a few two way front flip ski bases a couple weeks prior to his accident and they went flawlessly. typically, with the speed of a ski base and the launch of a front flip we get nice separation and good heading consistency, but you just can never ever bank on that outcome or any outcome.
It is a huge relief that he will make a full recovery. personally, once i spoke with him on the phone i knew it would be all good. He had that same fire in him as ever.
Bones heal.
Helmets save lives and should be worn when base jumping.
Luck happens both ways.
Wall strikes are unacceptable and must be avoided at all costs.
Super Frenchie shines on.
