Quadriplegic Camelford man dies from horrific bike crash 30 years on

A quadriplegic man has died as a result the bike accident that left him paralysed 30 years ago. An inquest into the death of Simon William Slatter heard how as a teenager he swapped bicycle with a mate one day but suffered a devastating life-changing injury in a crash on the north coast of Cornwall.

Simon, who was 44 when he passed away at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro on August 24, was in a coma for six weeks following the bike accident in 1995 and had to undergo two years of rehabilitation. An inquest into his death held at Cornwall Coroner's Court in Truro on Monday (November 11) heard how his family moved to a more manageable house in Camelford where adaptations and a full care package were made and was provided to him until his passing.

A quadriplegic, Simon had recently written about his accident, injuries and life in a blog for Mid Cornwall Lifestyle charity, which cared for him throughout his life. In his latest blogpost dated 2023, Simon said that despite the horrific injuries he received as a result of falling down a cliff, he was "determined not to be beaten however tough my days might be".

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Simon studied several courses at the National Star College passing at both certificate and diploma levels. After much tribulation and many rejections and even greater perseverance, Simon secured a job in the IT department of the then North Cornwall District Council.

In his blog he wrote: "I remember my first day as if it was yesterday. My new job! I felt both nervous and excited. The day started with introductions to the team, staff and a brief tour of the building and workplace.

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"Initially I was overwhelmed. So much information to take in and worried that I may not remember everything. In no time at all I felt like one of the team."

He added: "The biggest message I can give to people is, no matter what you are faced with, no matter what challenges life throws at you, no matter how much your life can change, never give up."

In a statement read out at Simon's inquest, his sister Rachel said he had been a enjoying life as a normal teenager when growing up and loved all sports. She said that on the day of the accident Simon and his mate swapped bikes but his did not have any brakes. She said Simon's mum became his full time carer until her death in 2019 when he lived at home alone.

The inquest into Simon's death heard how some of his organs started failing in the days before his death and, when he arrived at Treliske, a urinary infection was discovered with problems with his spleen and liver too. Further tests showed that Simon had e-Coli while his infection turned to sepsis.

Despite the care he received in hospital, and as Simon's health deteriorated, the decision was taken to let him go in peace as he was unlikely to survive. Simon passed away in hospital surrounded by his loved ones, minutes after being extubated.

Recording an accidental death conclusion, senior coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Andrew Cox, said Simon had led a typical uneventful life until the tragic accident in 1995 in which he suffered devastating injuries which left him paraplegic.

He said: "Simon received very good care and survived for nearly 30 years which is remarkable but he became unwell in August and died at Treliske. His paraplegia and following complications stem from the accident back in 1995 so it is appropriate to record an accidental death."

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