A POPULAR mountain biker has been left paralysed after plunging 65ft from a cliff in the French Alps.

Jack Sims, 24, was left fighting for his life after he landed on his back when he lost control of his mountain bike and crashed off the side of a sheer cliff.

He suffered a broken back and a punctured lung from multiple broken ribs in the horror fall.

Jack has no feeling from his chest down and has been told he may never walk again.

His family from Blandford flew to France to keep a bedside vigil since the accident and a fundraising drive has now been launched to support him.

Jack, who has spent the last fortnight in hospital in Grenoble, returned to the UK by ambulance to undergo specialist treatment at Salisbury Hospital.

Speaking to the Daily Echo from the ambulance, Jack said: “It’s a nightmare but I have to keep telling myself these things happen.

“I have no feeling from my chest down but at the moment, I feel lucky to be alive.

“Once I get an idea of what the future holds, I can adapt into my new life.”

Jack, who has loved biking all his life and takes part in worldwide competitions, had gone to the French Alps with a group of friends to take part in the longest downhill mountain bike race in the world.

However, before the event and just two days after arriving on holiday, tragedy struck while biking in Les Deux Alpes.

Jack, explained: “There was a big jump called a step down and I misjudged my speed and landing and went over the edge.

“I remember parts of it. I remember being on my back feeling excruciating pain and thinking I had a big stone under me which turned out to be my broken back.”

Jack was airlifted and underwent emergency surgery before fighting for his life in intensive care.

“I had cracked so many ribs which punctured my right lung so there was a lot of blood there that had to be drained.

“I’m paralysed from the top of my ribcage down but I feel lucky to be here.”

Last night he was due to arrive at Salisbury Hospital to undergo treatment at a specialist spinal clinic where he could spend up to 18 months.

Jack, said: “It’s still very unclear what is going to happen, especially with the language barrier but I have been told it’s one of the worst parts of my back I could have broken so I need to set myself up for the worst.”

Family bike shop Offcamber, in Blandford Forum, where Jack has worked for 10 years as a bike mechanic and sales assistant, has launched a fundraising drive to support him.

In just 24 hours, £3,830 was raised.

Jack, a former Blandford School pupil, said: “I’m so overwhelmed by the generosity of people.

“I looked at it today and have been totally shocked by people’s kindness. I’m just a bloke in the workshop fixing people’s bikes.

“I can’t put into words how much this support is helping now.”

Go to https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/JackSims?utm_id=107&utm_term=rNjRn5EAA