Heibner on road to recovery

FIERCE COMPETITOR: The family of injured racer Kyle Heibner (15v) are hoping their son will use all of his fierce competitiveness on his road to recovery. PHOTO/GRAHAM HUGHES, SPORTS WEB PHOTOGRAPHY

PARENTS Steve Heibner and Donna Elston had the best news in nearly a fortnight when son Kyle Heibner opened his eyes and spoke a few words on Sunday.

The 21-year-old was flown to Wellington Hospital and placed in an induced coma after an accident when racing his superstock at Oceanview Speedway in Wanganui on February 14.

While in the coma surgeons operated to release pressure in his brain, but since awakening on Sunday Heibner has made steady progress.

"It was just the best thing when he opened his eyes on Sunday and said a couple of words," relieved father Steve Heibner said yesterday.

"The doctors asked him if he knew his name and birthday and he just rattled it off. But there's still a long, long way to go. He's out of ICU and in a ward now and we don't know how long it will be until he can go to rehab.

"The options are a place in Porirua or at Burwood Hospital in Christchurch. We're pushing for Christchurch - we all know how good they are down at Burwood and Kyle will have more daily support from family and friends down there."

While Steve Heibner lives in Wanganui, mother Donna and her husband Mike Elston live and work in Nelson where Kyle also lives.

"The messages of support and well wishes has simply been amazing and we would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts," Steve Heibner said.

Heibner is a valuable member of the Wanganui Warriors Superstock Team that finished second at the nationals in Palmerston North a week before the accident.

Mother Donna posted on the Wanganui Warrior's Facebook page: "WE HAVE NEWS - Today Kyle opened his eyes, he has had his ventilator tube removed. He has spoken a few words and is able to squeeze our hands etc. We have a long road ahead, but he is a fighter and he will continue to get stronger. All of your support has been incredible and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Keep it coming, it's working people."

Fellow racers from around the country have also had Heibner on their minds with many sporting his 15v race number on their vehicles alongside their own as a mark of respect.

The Warrior's facebook team praised the actions of McKenzie Motorsport from Nelson who are raising funds for the Heibner family. "Huge ups to McKenzie Motorsport from Nelson - Here is your chance to support a true 'warrior'."

The Nelson-based team and other racing teams around the country have put together two raffles in which all money raised from the tickets sold will be donated to Kyle's family.

Each raffle will have 500 tickets (numbered 1-500) at $5 each. Both raffles will be drawn on Saturday (February 28) at the end of the South Island Superstock title. Tickets can be ordered through the Wanganui Warrior's facebook page.

"Donna was telling me some guy from America has even ordered 10 tickets and we don't even know him. He's apparently an ex-pat Kiwi called Mark Harpur and when I raced sidecars years ago there was a guy racing also called Harpur and spelled the same way. I don't know if they are related," Steve Heibner said.