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Durban - Charles Stander, the father of late Olympic mountain biker Burry, suffered serious injuries during a group ride from the Burry Stander Bike Park in Umtentweni on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast on Saturday.
The 62-year-old hit a ditch and was flung over his handlebars, reports eHowzit.
The impact of the fall broke two vertebrae in his neck and two in his back.
He also broke two front teeth.
He underwent successful neck and back surgery – a five-hour procedure – at Hibiscus Private Hospital on Monday.
"Initially it looked as though he would require two separate operations on his neck and back, but fortunately the doctor (Freek Coetzee) was able to do the necessary in one operation," said Charl Stander, the eldest of the Stander brothers.
"He’s doing much better since the operation and if anything he’s probably going to be frustrated that he’s going to have to take it easy for a while."
The family thanked the hospital staff as well as the community for all the support and messages, adding the family’s Shelly Beach shop, Concept Cyclery, will open again on Wednesday.
