Pop star faces long battle back to the charts

By STAFF REPORTER and NZPA

Pop star Daniel Bedingfield is likely to face two to three months of recuperation in New Zealand after suffering neck injuries in a car smash.

The 24-year-old British-based singer's four-wheel-drive vehicle overturned after leaving the road near Whangarei on Friday and crashing through a fence.

New Zealand-born Bedingfield, who was visiting family, was trapped in the vehicle before being rescued by emergency services. He was taken by ambulance to Whangarei Hospital, where he is expected to stay for at least a week.

Neither Bedingfield nor members of his family were available to be interviewed, although his parents issued a statement (in full below) to the Herald expressing their relief his injuries were not more serious and speaking of their sympathies for other road crash victims.

Hospital spokeswoman Alison Lees said Bedingfield was in a stable condition. "He's damaged vertebrae in his neck. But it hasn't affected his motor or sensory capabilities. He's a fairly lucky guy."

Ms Lees said Bedingfield was making good progress and was expected to be discharged from hospital by the end of this week.

"But he won't be well enough to travel, so he will be recuperating in New Zealand for two or three months."

Speaking from Britain, Bedingfield's manager, Neale Easterby, said the crash meant plans for the singer had changed.

"He had half a new album in the can before he left for New Zealand. We'll just have to push stuff back."

Mr Easterby said he had spoken to Bedingfield twice a day since the accident. "He's happy. He just thanks God he's alive. We're just happy he's good. Everyone wants him to recover and get well."

He said Bedingfield was grateful for the expertise of emergency services which attended the accident and for the care he had received from hospital staff.

Mr Easterby had no doubt Bedingfield would resume his musical career. "Hopefully he'll be performing festivals in Europe in the [northern] summer."

Bedingfield is famous for the international hits Gotta Get Thru This and If You're Not the One.

Parents thank God and many helpers

Daniel's parents, Molly and John Bedingfield, have issued this statement to the Herald.

"Daniel is currently in Whangarei Hospital and is in a stable condition with serious fractures to the second and third vertebrae of his neck.

He is in Halo traction and will continue to be for two to three months.

The Halo is held in place by four bolts in the skull to stabilise the fracture.

His injuries are the result of a car crash in which his jeep skidded off the road and flipped on to its roof, crushing Daniel's neck under the weight of the vehicle.

The quick thinking of passers-by, the skills of the paramedics and hospital staff have saved Daniel from death or paralysis and they have been amazing.

We thank God his spinal chord is undamaged and he has retained full movement and sensation in his body.

He will be released from hospital in a week and continue his rehabilitation with family and friends in New Zealand.

So many other parents have lost their children in similar accidents and while we are personally relieved for Daniel, we feel for the families who have not been so fortunate.

We have cried together as we have realised what could have been and we are so grateful he is alive and a full recovery is expected."