BMX rider Dane Searls risked life and limb on Friday to set a world record jumping gaps of up to 18 metres but it was his celebrations 48 hours later that left him in a coma fighting for his life.
Searls, 23, was partying at Billy’s Beach House in Surfers Paradise when he tried to dive into a pool from a first floor balcony last night.
He missed and instead hurtled head first into the cement below.
Champion BMX rider Dane Searls was injured attempting to dive into a pool from a Gold Coast balcony. Photo: Dan Searls' official Facebook fan page
He was taken to Gold Coast Hospital where he remains in a coma with head and back injuries.
Paul Everest, director of Unit clothing which sponsors the popular BMX rider, rushed to the hospital last night and returned again this morning as family, friends and fans keep a bedside vigil.
‘‘He is in intensive care, gravely ill, fighting for his life,’’ said Mr Everest.
‘‘He comes from a strong family, some of the nicest people you will ever meet.
‘‘He’s obviously been hurt riding BMX but it is such a shame an accident like this has occurred in a nightclub.’’
Mr Everest said Searls had broken a world record on Friday on jumps that had been specifically built for him at Boonah.
He did a series of four jumps, the first was a 9m gap, the second a 12m gap, the third a 15m gap and the last an 18m gap, all from a height of two to three storeys.
Mr Everest said he was celebrating the jumps yesterday when he decided to dive from the balcony.
‘‘He has pushed the sport to a whole new level,’’ he said.
‘‘He was doing that on Friday and doing it in style. ... We’re just praying for a miracle.’’
Searls emerged on the world BMX stage after being filmed for the Giants of Dirt videos last year riding a course that had some of the biggest dirt jumps in the world.
