Everything you need to know
When was 14 years old, he was severely injured while competing in an FMX competition. He came up short, landing on the top of the front side of the dirt landing ramp and the dirtbike decelerated from 60 mph to almost reverse in what was a split second. Upon impact, Pastrana bounced off the bike froze in an upright riding position and his feet went straight out to the sides like he was doing a jumping jack. As soon fell off the bike his father and a first aid group took off across the dirt course in fear of what everyone had just witnessed. He was severely injured, his spine having been separated from his pelvis. It had left him in a wheelchair for three months long months in pain. “I was in and out of consciousness for about three days and had six blood transfusions,” says Pastrana. He also says that according to doctors, only three people in the U.S. have ever lived after such an injury. It was a long and difficult recovery. While in the wheelchair recovering, he vowed to continue motorcycle jumping as he had also said ‘’I’ve been through the most pain I could ever go through so what do I have to fear’’.
Injuries
Injuries have taken quite a toll on his life leaving him impaired from weeks to months at a time. His medical records include: a dislocated spine, he has torn his ACL, PCL, LCL, MCL and meniscus in his left knee, broken his tibia and fibula, he’s had surgery on his left wrist twice, left thumb once, two surgeries on his back, one on his right elbow, nine on his left knee, six on the right knee, one shoulder surgery which left him with the only piece of metal he has in his body.
He was also injured in July 2011 while competing at the X Games when his motorcycle did not rotate to the landing position, crushing his ankle and causing a fracture. However, Pastrana was back at it in his Subaru Impreza and competing in the Rallycross final.