I awoke August 1st to a beautiful day for a ride. I had been planning to go on this early morning pre work hours ride for some time now. I wanted to get the feel for my new KTM rc8 prior to my track day at Motegi the following week. So I headed to the glorious sweeping turns of the mountains in Okutama. I made the 45 minute trip to the base of the mountains parking area with ease really learning what this machine has to offer. To this point I only had put 300 kms on her during commuting back and forth to work, this would be my first pleasure ride on her.
As I pulled into the parking area, all other riders were fixated on my sweet new machine and possibly my sweet Icon gear (I was wearing Icon leather pants, a Contra jacket, Accelerant gloves, and a carbon Lifeform helmet). I hung out at the parking area as normal and watched a few other riders arrive and some head out to tackle the mountain.
I then decided its my turn to go rip the twisties…..this is the point where my memory of the days events stops and I will be providing info as it was told to me. You see just a few seconds after I pulled out from the parking area I was hit by another rider and his bike which he lost control of and pitched his new Z1000 Kawi right at me from the opposing lane. Yes a head on collision. Of which I have no memory or recollection at all.
My body took the brunt of the hit from his airborne Kawi. Next thing I remember briefly is hearing the rotor wash from a helicopter. I was told I died in route and was successfully revived while on the medivac flight.
I woke up 9 days later from a medically induced coma. The whole time I was out the doctors had been telling my wife to contact family because I wasn't going to make it. And if I did make it I wouldn't walk again or be the same guy I was. I had a collapsed lung, torn stomach, destroyed kidney, multiple fractures in my left arm, and a shattered pelvis. I was hooked up to every machine the ER had! Fortunately I had been flown to the best ICU in Japan, Tachikawa’s Disaster Response Hospital, where all the top docs are. They did several emergency surgical procedures to keep me amongst the living. The new scars I have will make a constant and daily reminder to me of what occurred and how fortunate I am,
So here I sit in the hospital a month and a half later, lots of recovery and rehab needed, but happy to be alive. My arm has some major nerve damage and my pelvis has to mend with time. My internal damage is mended they say and I can eat and drink as I please. I must say the docs and everyone here are shocked about how much progress I have made in such a short time.
It’s amazing how much support, well wishes, and even monetary donations I’ve received from around the globe. When times are tough you really see how much you have and who cares about you.
So why are you reading my story on Icon’s site you may be asking? Not only was I wearing all Icon gear, it is a fact that Icon is my family. I have been directly affiliated with Icon for the past 6 years. It is why I’ve never hesitated to entrust my life to Icon when I go out to ride. I know the folks behind the scenes, those that truly care about the people that buy and wear Icon products, the family that is ICON MOTO. Everything is from riders too riders, from the street for the street as the motto entails. You’ll never find a more dedicated bunch of people.
In closing I just want to say THANK YOU to Icon for saving my life. My family also extends the same sentiment as I am still here to watch my daughter grow, witness my un-born son’s birth, and my wife’s glorious smile as I will be here to take care of my family. The road to recovery will be long and difficult but, I must not forget that that I will certainly be able to put the saddle back on, turn the key, crack the throttle, and….RIDE AMONG THEM once more.
J. Fullington
Tokyo Japan
RCate
This should make for a neat streetfighter project
Airframe Carbon Lifeform shows the scars of the massive impact it withstood
The Contra Jacket performed it's duty well
The remains of a prototype set of Icon Overlord Leather Pants - post paramedic scissors
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