Injured snowmobile jumper has back surgery

A young Whitehorse man who was seriously injured in an extreme motorsports event earlier this month underwent eight hours of surgery in a Boston hospital Wednesday morning, according to a relative.

Competitive snowmobile jumper Darryl Tait, 19, was attempting to do a backflip off the top of a hill at the New Hampshire Grass Drags on Oct. 11 when his snowmobile crashed in front of spectators.

The accident also damaged Tait's lungs, which had to heal before doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital could operate on his back.

"The surgeons were really pleased how it went," his uncle, Russ Tait, told CBC News on Wednesday.

"They confirmed the fact that his spinal cord had been totally severed. But they were pleased that there hadn't been any pooling of the spinal fluid from the upper part of the body, so that means he'll have the use of his arms and the upper quarter of body. So we're all thrilled about that."

Tait said his nephew will be in a wheelchair when he recovers, but family members are happy he is alive.

Darryl Tait may be transferred to a Canadian hospital by early next week, his uncle said.