Keeping that in mind, the motocross world is now mourning after one of its most talented riders, Jeremy Lusk, who died on Saturday night after crashing while trying to land a backflip in competition, the Associated Press reported. The rider failed to complete a full rotation of a Hart Attack backflip and slammed headfirst into the dirt.
He was immediately taken to hospital but, unfortunately, doctors could do nothing to save him. Jorge Ramirez, chief of the intensive care unit at Calderon Hospital, said Lusk suffered severe brain damage and a possible spinal cord injury.
“He was in a medicine-induced coma as a protective measure, and the medicine was being reduced to see how his body responded,” he said. “That didn’t mean he was going to wake up. He was in shock and that got worse last night, until he stopped responding and entered into cardiac and respiratory failure.”
The doctor added that the athlete died with his parents and his wife, Lauren, at his side.
The daring rider who was only 24 had a very successful 2008 season as he won Freestyle gold at the X Games and silver in Best Trick when he landed the first double-grab Hart Attack backflip. What's more, he won a bronze helmet in Freestyle at the Moto X World Championships in his hometown of San Diego.
“Jeremy motivated me to be a better person, he was my best friend,” said Brian Deegan, the founder of Lusk’s riding group Metal Mulisha. “One day, we will all be reunited and will ride together again.”
The vice president and general manager of the X Games franchise, Chris Stiepock, showed his regret for the loss of the athelete as well saying that Lusk “had emerged as one of the world’s best freestyle moto riders.”
“He was a tremendous athlete and competitor and represented the sport of freestyle motocross very well,” he added.
Jeremy Lusk crashed in almost identical manner in the freestyle semifinals at the 2007 X Games but was not hurt. This time, however, he wasn't that lucky.
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