David Keys and grandson Lucas.
Paralysed cyclist David Keys has resigned himself to the fact life as he knew it has ended, days after crashing his bike into a sinkhole in Waihi.
The 52-year-old has been told by doctors "there is every indication the injury will be permanent".
The Waihi weed-sprayer was riding his bike
on Wednesday last week when he hit an unmarked 75cm-deep sinkhole in Morgan Park.
Having hit the ground and broken his neck, he lay for seven hours with his dog barking for help beside him, before being found about 4.15am the next day.
A family friend, who did not want to be named, said the keen bushman was now coming to grips with the devastating realisation he might never again head into the bush. "David is slowly coming to terms with the implication of the injury. It will be particularly hard on him because he was such an active outdoors guy. He loved the bush and it's going to be difficult for him to come to terms with it," he said.
