BMX rider Mike Aitken remains in coma

BMX cyclist Mike Aitken of Murray, Utah, remains hospitalized and in a coma after his crash Sunday during a video shoot in Pennsylvania.

Aitken, 25, who won a recent AST Dew Tour dirt competition in Salt Lake City, is in critical condition at St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa.

While attempting a variation of a 360-degree spin, he over-rotated and landed on his head. He has not regained consciousness, and his injuries include a fractured eye socket and jaw.

After the Dew Tour victory, Aitken said that he would put the prize money into a college fund for his son. But Aitken, who on Wednesday was to celebrate his fourth wedding anniversary, does not have health insurance.

BMX riders are generally deemed too high risk for insurance. His website includes updates on his condition and a link to the Athlete Recovery Fund, which is trying to raise money for the Aitken family.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Mike Aitken rides during a winning performance at a recent AST Dew Tour dirt competition in Salt Lake City. Credit: Bo Bridges / AST Dew Tour

Comments

[Jay]

Mike Aitken is one of the nice guys in the sport. Hopefully the recent BMX crash injuries of Stephen Murray, Jimmy Levan, and Mike Aitken will shine a light on the companies they ride for. Not all BMX companies are flush with cash, but basic health insurance should be the first thing they give a sponsored rider. Maybe AST should cover all riders in an event they host, they're making the money off it. Either that, or make a 1 year insurance policy the 1st place prize.
I doubt the pro mountain bikers deal with this.

[John Dale]

It is not true that BMX athletes are not insurable. Please fact check this assertion since it has a negative effect on the perception of our sport. BMX is far more insurable than Football.

We have information on our site about this topic.

Sincerely,

John Dale
RedEndo BMX
Tucson, AZ

[BJ]

Stay strong Mike =]

love you ! xx

[Jay]

John,

I clicked around a bit on your site and couldn't find the insurance information. That assertion shouldn't have a negative effect on bmx. I have seen insurance companies try to get out of doing their job numerous times. It's a horrible system when companies put profit over human life, but insurance companies do this everyday. I say this as someone who was once seriously injured, and I watched the insurance company try every little trick they could to get out of paying. In the end they had to pay, because that was their part of the agreement, but it was disgusting to watch them operate like that.

Hopefully we see big changes in the Big Business of healthcare in the next four years.

This is just one occasion where a young person was denied and is now being forced into debt for fighting to stay alive. This happens all the time to older people and disabled. They are left to suffer and often die by our current healthcare system. Should a person really be forced into poverty and debt because they become sick? Perhaps that is the way of nature, but at some point do we become humane and stop running this as a business venture?

[aj]

Mike is arguably one of the best bicycle riders to have ever lived and it's sad that he doesn't have insurance. I was speaking to a friend of mine today who knows Mikey very well (in fact he was filming a video part with Mike when this crash occured), and he said that the deal was that insurance companies wouldn't cover Mike. I'd have to agree that this only looks bad for the insurance company and not bmx. It's bad enough that these guys don't get paid squat for the outrageous amount of talent they've developed, without them having no safety net when the inevitable major crash occurs. I personally had a major head trauma a few years back. I had health care, AND supplemental health insurance and still ended up owing around half of my total hospital bill. I don't know what can be done to fix it but I know I felt pretty helpless when I was instantly in deep debt to the health care industry.

[Rolando cheW]

Well! .. frizt at all.. i hope that aitken come back With uS Soon,.. becauze God doSnt forget him!!!....the comunity BMX either Wont... i´ll pray for him..´get Well , good lock aitken

[bmxer]

BMX is not dirtjumping... BMX is Bicycle motocross..it means - motocross imitated with bicycles instead of motorcycles.

[chris fraser]

mike aitken is by far the best bicycle rider to have ever lived.all of the health insurance agiencies should be able to cover a bmx rider.if you can cover a football player who is always breaking there colorbone you should cover a bmxr.stay fit.stay stylish aitken.love from all