From Dave Koberstein:

JUST LETTING YOU KNOW THE RECOVERY TIME FOR MICHAEL HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 6 WEEKS FLAT ON HIS BACK THEN 6 WEEKS WITH A BACK BRACE IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL. HE IS NOW AT SHENTON PARK HOSPITAL AND CAN HAVE VISITORS.

Messages of Support:

Michael,

hope you have a quick recovery, and we will miss you on race days, get well quick

all the best MacCormack family

Wish you all the best for a speedy recovery Michael.

Jamie Lewis

Bunbury BMX Club

09 March 2006

Could Michael Koberstein be the unluckiest person on Earth? In the past year, Michael has had to endure more pain, hard luck and hospital time than most people would encounter in an entire lifetime. As if a broken wrist, followed almost immediately by major kidney, liver, bow and other internal damage wasn't enough, Michael can now add a BROKEN BACK to his injury list.

Michael would have been back on the bike no more than 3 months after a heavy crash at the Kalgoorlie Super Series last June seen him in and out of hospital for the next 6 months, enduring 11 pain staking operations just to get him healthy again. You can read more about his recovery from this crash here. Michael was just starting to find speed and confidence again, which was seen at round 2 of the 2006 Super Series at Cockburn, where Michael brought home a 3rd in the 16 Boys Expert, behind 'seasoned veterans' Ben Davis & Tim Mores, and beating such Pros as Lindsay Truscott & Dylan Prince. This was also seen at Bunbury for round 3, where Michael took three 2nd place finishes in his motos, securing his spot in the A-Pro mains. This is where disaster struck again...

The gate dropped on Main 1 of A-Pro, with Michael coming out hard and fast from the far inside. He and Lindsay Truscott were battling for position just after the first tabletop, heading into the step up. This caused Michael to get a little unco. It looked as if he somehow turned his bars, which then dug his front wheel into the ground, sending Michael over the top and head first into the lip of the first step up. The result? A broken back.

An ambulance escorted Michael, flashing lights, sirens and all to Bunbury Hosptial for examination. From here he was airlifted up to Royal Perth Hospital for further examination. The diagnosis? A broken 5th Vertebrae. Michael is not allowed to move his neck, as doing so could pinch a nerve, paralysing him from The neck down. As serious as this all may sound, Michael could actually be out of hospital and recovering in bed at home within a week. This all depends on whether or not he needs an operation, which would be his 12th overall.

Throughout the whole ordeal, Michael has remained surprisingly calm and positive. It was him who messaged me to tell me the news, and then got me to call him so he can give me the full run down. He has said that this crash has done it for him, and that it is time to hang up the clip shoes once and for all. Although not a soul in the BMX Community would want him to leave our great sport, I'm sure none of us would protest his decision. My thoughts are with Michael and his family through a time that could only be described as devastating.

As most of you will know, there's nothing better than receiving a bunch of happy, positive and uplifting messages from your friends in times like these. If you would like to send Michael a message, please click here. I will post all the messages on the Michael Koberstein Recovery Page as I receive them, unless you would like to keep it private. If you do, please note it in the message. All messages will be forwarded directly to Michael and/or his family.

Please note: All information included in this post has come from Michael himself, as well as from video footage courtesy of Jono Stavrianakos at LEV3L Productions. Should you believe any of it to be inaccurate, please click here to let me know.

26th July 2005

Since the last update on Michael Koberstein last week, he has left hospital for a couple of days, but has had to return again, for yet another operation. A section of his liver became infected and had to be removed, as did a section of his bow, which hadn't been picked up earlier. This meant another trip to ICU and more recovery time.

17th July 2005

Michael is back in hospital due to an infection in his liver. He went back in a couple of days ago. The infection doesn't sound like its a major issue. More info as it comes to hand.

13th July 2005

I had my first opportunity to catch up with Michael on Sunday. The main reason for my visit was to obviously check up on how he is recovering, but also to get the full details of what has happened since the crash, as my race report was a little inaccurate.

I would first like to announce to anyone that hasn't yet heard that Michael is now out of hospital and recovering at home. He was discharged on Saturday. For the moment he is receiving daily visits from the nurse for check ups, any injections needed, etc.

It has been a long 5 and a half weeks since the crash. Here's a run down of what has happened:

Michael was first operated on in Kalgoorlie the night of the crash. 5 hours later, a scan found the major problem: A lacerated liver. He was then flown back to Perth at 11.30am the next morning via the Royal Flying Doctor Service as they couldn't stabilise him.

From here, he was operated on again on the Monday to try and stop the internal bleeding. He was also put into an induced coma for 8 hours to help get him stablilised. It was also found that he had blood clots in his lungs which caused a temporary case of Ammonia.

It was soon discovered that Michael also had a hole in his liver, something that the surgeons failed to pick up during the 2nd operation. To fix this problem, Michael had a tube put in through his upper leg and into into the liver.

His 4th operation came when a tube had to be put down his throat and into the liver to fix a bile duct.

On the 20th June, Michael made his first trip home. This was short lived though as he returned back to hospital on the 24th due to a high temperature and chest pains.

On the Sunday after he returned, he had his 5th operation where a drain from his liver was put in, to get rid of all the bile and 'rotten' blood. I think I remember Michael telling me he's already filled 4 of these bags. That's quite an achievement.

So that brings us up to now. Michael returned home on Saturday the 9th July and is still there and recovering well. He has had to endure more than almost anyone his age, and is taking the whole experience very well, as well as staying positive which is always good. Since the crash he lost a whopping 8.2kg, which is the least of his worries at the moment. Here's hoping that Michael makes a speedy and full recovery and that we see him at the track again soon! Stay tuned for the latest updates on Michael's condition.