Biking accident leaves boy fighting for his life

Cooper Snowdon and his mother Kim Ostern in happier times. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A Tauranga family's dream of a new life in Whanganui has been shattered after their youngest son was horrifically injured in a bike accident.

Cooper Snowdon, 16, was playing on his bike at Kowhai Park with his older brother Geordie last week. He came out of a jump awkwardly and landed directly on his head, breaking his neck and damaging his spinal cord.

Family friend Kim Steedman, who has known Cooper and his siblings their whole lives, said Cooper would be unable to move from the neck down - if he survives.

Cooper is in an induced coma in Christchurch Hospital's intensive care unit, and is being assisted to breathe. He had surgery at Burwood Spinal Unit on Friday to stabilise his fractures.

"What the doctors don't know yet is if he'll be able to breathe on his own. They're waiting for him to stabilise so they can find out about his breathing," Mrs Steedman said.

Cooper and Geordie had moved to Whanganui to be with their mum, Kim Ostern, just four days before the accident, she said.

"Kim moved to Whanganui last year to get out of the rat race. The boys stayed with their father, Roger, in Tauranga, but they decided they'd like to move to Whanganui."

Mrs Steedman said Cooper was about to start a training course.

She has started a Givealittle page to help the family with the cost of travelling to the South Island to be with Cooper, and other expenses. The page can be found at here.

"It's a hideous time for the family. Kim has a good job here, but she doesn't know when she'll be able to go back to work. They've been told that if Cooper survives he'll be in hospital for at least six months. The family knows no-one in Christchurch and they have very little support there."

Mrs Steedman said she felt helpless and wanted to do something that could positively impact her friends.

The page was set up on Friday and nearly $2000 has already been pledged.

Ms Ostern said she was very grateful for the love and support of the Whanganui community.

She said her son had an "absolute passion for life".

"He absolutely thinks outside the square. He loves his friends and his brother. He loves fishing with his dad, snowboarding, climbing trees."

Mrs Steedman said Cooper had always been "full of beans" and everyone was hoping that his natural zest for life would pull him through this ordeal.