Michael Bonney marries at hospital chapel

Orange Bikes MD paralysed from neck down

Published: April 4, 2013 at 2:15 pm

Michael Bonney, MD of Orange Bikes, has married his partner of 25 years despite suffering life-changing injuries in a cycling accident less than three weeks beforehand.

Bonney tied the knot to long term partner Linzi Saunders on 22 March, in a ceremony at the James Cook University Hospital chapel in Middlesbrough, where he remains in the high dependency spinal injuries unit.

Bonney sustained his injuries in a cycling accident during the Eden Valley sportive; initially, he was not expected to live. Suffering a C3 complete spinal injury and subsequent damage to his cord means he has been left paralysed from the neck down.

Currently, Bonney's diaphragm and chest walls are also paralysed, which means he is unable to breathe for himself. He is said to be in good spirits, with an exemplary level of determination shining through ahead of his rehabilitation program.

Friends and family are working hard to get him back online and in communication. Meanwhile, messages of support can be directed to both the official Orange Bikes Facebook page or his personal page.

The ceremony was recorded by Stu Thomson of MTBcut – you can view his edit of the couple's big day here.