Hutt Valley mountain biker Erice van Leuven. Photo: Instagram
Hutt Valley mountain biker Erice van Leuven is optmistic about her recovery after surviving the biggest crash of her life.
The 18-year-old broke her neck, back and wrist and has damaged a lung and her liver after catching her rear wheel while trying to clear an 85-foot jump at an event in Tasmania.
"I went over the bars and hit my head, I don't really remember the rest," she said.
"When I first went to the hospital I thought it would be a few ribs and my wrist."
Scans revealed the severity of the injuries van Leuven had sustained.
She has been awaiting clearance from doctors that her lung is strong enough for her to make the trip home to New Zealand.
Her chest protector has been removed, but she continues to wear a neck brace.
Van Leuven's mother will travel home with her - with a detour on the way home to the Halberg Awards in Auckland next Tuesday.
"So I'll have a nice accessory for that," she said, referring to her neck brace.
The two-time junior women's world champion shows no sign of slowing down, saying her excitement was already building for next year's competition.
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