'Deadpool & Wolverine' cinematographer George Richmond "stable, conscious' after paragliding accident in Himachal Pradesh
Chandigarh, June 13
Hollywood cinematographer George Richmond, best known for his latest work on Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds starrer 'Deadpool & Wolverine', is stable after undergoing surgery for cervical spine injuries sustained during a paragliding accident in Himachal Pradesh on June 8.
The 54-year-old British cinematographer is currently undergoing treatment at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
He was brought to the Advanced Trauma Centre of PGIMER Chandigarh in the early hours of June 9 after rescue and evacuation efforts. He was then admitted under the care of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
According to the health bulletin dated June 13, Richmond is in a stable, conscious state and is responding to commands. He has been interacting with his wife. Due to the severe spinal injury, Richmond has limited movement in both arms and zero movement in either leg.Other test results appear satisfactory and normal.
Richmond suffered "catastrophic spinal injury comprising a fracture of the C1 vertebra along with a fracture-dislocation at the C5-C6 level, resulting in quadriplegia," as per a press release issued by the PGIMER earlier.
Prof Vijay G Goni, Department of Orthopaedics, PGIMER, stated, "The patient presented with a highly complex cervical spine fracture-dislocation associated with significant neurological impairment. Following detailed evaluation and stabilisation, a carefully planned surgical strategy was executed," as quoted in the release.
The surgery, which was led by Dr Vishal Kumar, Additional Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, involved the removal of the damaged intervertebral disc and fractured elements causing neural compression. Reconstruction was performed using an interbody cage packed with bone graft substitute material, followed by stabilisation with a cervical plate and screws.
Following surgery, Richmond was monitored in the postoperative recovery unit before being shifted to the Postoperative Intensive Care Unit.As of now, the cinematographer has been kept under close monitoring by the medical team, the release said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's alarming how many adventure sports accidents happen in India. Our emergency response and medical facilities are improving, but we need stricter regulation and safety checks for paragliding operators. Prayers for George and his family. 🇮🇳
The surgery sounds incredibly complex - kudos to Dr Vishal Kumar and the PGIMER team for handling such a severe spinal injury so well. Hope he gets back at least some movement. This is a wake-up call for adventure tourism regulations.
Was very scared when I first heard about this. Paragliding is becoming too commercial in places like Bir Billing and Solang. While it's great that he got world-class treatment in Chandigarh, we must ask - were proper safety measures in place? We need accountability.
As a tourist who's tried paragliding in Himachal, I was impressed by the scenery but not always by the safety briefing. This incident should push authorities to enforce stricter protocols. Wishing Mr Richmond a strong recovery - Deadpool and Wolverine fans are with him! 🎬
I have mixed feelings. On one hand, our medical teams are second to none - the surgery was brilliantly performed. On the other hand, adventure tourism in Himachal has become a free-for-all. We need licensed operators, mandatory insurance, and regular equipment checks. Hoping for the best for George and his family.
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