BMX badass critically injured

[Tacoma]

Mike Aitken, SLC local and badass, hurt BAD

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=294&sid=4475365

There are two sides to extreme BMX biking, extreme reward and extreme risk. Murray's Mike Aitken was caught on the wrong side.

Aitken is a BMX cycling superstar. He just won the gold medal in the BMX dirt competition last month here at the Dew Tour's Salt Lake City event.

But right now, 25 year old Aitken is in critical condition at a Bethlehem Pennsylvania hospital. On Sunday, while filming a video, he over-rotated a 360-spin in mid-air landing on his head. He has suffered brain injuries and multiple facial fractures. Aitken has not regained consciousness. His parents and wife are there with him in the hospital.

While Aitken battles for his life and doctors work to save him, the bills are mounting. Aitken has no health insurance. According to his website "he's deemed uninsurable" due to the high-risk nature of his profession. You can help by donating to help pay for his treatment by clicking on the related link to the right.

Doctors are hopeful about his recovery, but the last update on his website indicated damage to Aitken's brain stem. Ironically, according to reports, Aitken had mostly given up competitions for video shoots.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Crappy! You always hate to hear these kind of story's.

 

[Tacoma]

I sure do. I met him a while back when he wasn't HUGE yet, knew of him from all the BMX freaks in NY when I moved out here... I thought it was pretty cool that he was a down-home UT local.

Sucks that he's got no insurance, on top of everything else.

 

[projektdotnet]

Wow, hope the best, I had a few broken bones from BMX growing up but never that bad. My prayers for him and his family.

 

[EROK81?]

I had a friend who wrecked at the skate park on his BMX and hit his head (he was wearing a helmet). He was in a coma for a few months. While he was unconcious at the park someone stole his bike.

Pretty crappy.

 

[Exalted 4x4]

He has some of the best style out there. Now there are two big time bmxers is hospitals, first shawn murray and now aitken. To sad, i hope he recovers to be able to ride again.

 

[kbjames]

Sucks he's hurt...in the end just Darwins Thoery confirmed once again.

 

[jsudar]

I work with Mike's uncle. He didn't come into work yesterday, now I guess I now why. That really sucks.
Makes me remember why I sold my BMX bike. My kids will appreciate the fact I'm still around.

 

[Kiel]

I met Mike last weekend. His wife, is good friends with my girlfriend. He is up and around and looked pretty good. Had a bunch of crazy scars too from the hospital. But he is getting better Really nice guy

 

[Tacoma]

That's pretty good news to hear! Thanks for the update.