A Dublin-based cyclist who suffered spinal injuries during a crash while racing in Co Wicklow has vowed to walk and cycle again, saying he was doing everything he could to get back on his feet.
However, he has also expressed concern for his livelihood and even fears losing his apartment after the crash left him undergoing treatment and intensive rehabilitation in St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin.
Lucky Barquez, a 23-year-old originally from the Philippines but living in Dublin since he was aged 4, said he had been stunned by the response to his emergency situation since he crashed during a race at the start of this month on Carrick Mountain, Co Wicklow.
He said he was not clear what caused the crash but was now well acquainted with the injuries he had sustained. While he initially felt paralysed from the neck down due to a spinal injury, he has begun to regain feeling in his body and has tried assisted walking and some other leg exercises in recent days.
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However, it remained unclear how much he would recover and how long his rehabilitation would take.
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Barquez said it was ironic he was called 'Lucky' and this crash had happened to him. But he was determined to fight back and had been astounded by the support from the Irish mountain bike community and from colleagues in Lidl, the company he works for.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for him with the goal of raising €10,000 to ensure he keeps his rented accommodation and to help him recover. The online fundraiser has so far collected just over €7,700 and if you would like to contribute to it you can do so by following this link.
Using a 'text to speech' function he said "bikes are class and I hope I do not discourage anyone from riding" their bikes.
While Barquez's parents and siblings return to their native Philippines after he completed his Leaving Cert, and he has no relatives here, he said he had still been receiving a huge amount of support and was grateful for it.
"When the crash happened I thought I was alone but I wasn't," he said. "I didn't realise how big the mountain bike community was in Ireland. I will promise you guys that I will stand and we will go for that bike ride again. But so far thank you so much for everything."
