My Isle of Man TT Crash

[Brett]

My view on it is that you have ALREADY made it through the hard part of your crash. You know you crashed, you know why, you know what it is like to overcome the injuries and to have the frustrations that come along with that. Your family also have been through the worst of it. There is nothing wrong with having a curiosity about what happened and wanting to see what went on. You have already made it back from the edge of life. I would watch it and see it for waht it was, a crash that you lived from when most others would have died. It is in the past.

[codgyoleracer]

Definatly watch it, you can never know to many true facts.

[onearmedbandit]

Looks like at the end of the day Shaun, only you can answer that question. People have given sound reasons for both watching and not watching. Up to you.

[YellowDog]

Welcome back Shaun mate. And well done for hanging in there. The answer to your question is quite simple, but only you have the answer.

You were able to compete in the TT races due to the confidence and faith others had in your abilities as a top rider. For you to do this you must have had strong faith and confidence in yourself. This has now taken a knock. As a professional and a mature adult, you can put this behind you and move forward.

The answer to your question and predicament is: If you can continue with the rest of your life, without the need to know or see what actually happened, then that will be the best choice. The fact that you have survived may be reward in itself.

If however you will be tortured by not knowing and you will be able to accept what you see as fact, then you will have to see it.

There is of course a third choice and that is not to make a decsion until you are fitter and healthier. You can receive the DVD and keep it safe until such time you are certain as to whether you want to see it or not.

You also need to be prepared for the possibility that the DVD may not give you any indication at all as to what went wrong and why your campaign ended as it did. Such an anti-climax would probably be the most hurtful as you will be expecting answers.

Top marks to the DVD guys for refusing to release it to anyone but you.

Good luck with this decision and also with your recovery.

[CHOPPA]

It really comes down to how you think you will take it but if it were me there would be absolutly no question that i would want to see it, i would want to show every one how i could live through such a bad accident. I think it would be good to see it so you can fully understand what happened and your mind could stop trying to recreate it from patchy memorys... The only reason i wouldnt like to watch something like that is if i was still intending on racing still, it would be another senario to try keep out of my head on race day

[MotoGirl]

Seeing the crash may not be the bit that gives you the trauma. I suspect what may scare you more is seeing yourself laying there (somewhat lifeless) while everyone tries to help you. Seeing this could drive it home (again) just how close you came to leaving your girls.

Edit: I wouldn't watch it because you've survived this long without it so why do you need to see it now?

[roadracingoldfart]

There are many good answers here but i cant help but think if the DVD was viewed by yourself in company of a good friend who views it without passing judgment on the cause etc would be a benifit to get the total picture to fill in your gaps. I am sure i would like to know what happened all the way through the accident even if i knew the original cause , it would give me a full understanding which i often need to have .
Possible viewers are the medical staff that nursed you back to health here and overseas, they im sure would be amazed at the progress you have made and the punishment the human body can take and still come back to what you are now post accident.
Im picking that the biggest reason you healed as well and quickly as you did was due to the mental attitude you have and the need to not let family and friends go on without you hassling them and being a slight pain in the ass as a man like you can be occasionally.
Cheers mate and keep healing .
Paul.

[Clivoris]

Hi Shaun.
By now you have probably watched the DVD anyway but.. You know what I do for a living and I can tell you that the most important variable here will be how you process the experience of watching the DVD. It may well be distressing and bring up some unpleasant memories, emotions and sensations. If you have the attitude and support that helps you ride this out, it will likely be a healing experience. It might knock you around emotionally for a matter of seconds or days, it is very hard to predict. Your resiliant personality is likely to be very protective. You have bounced back from the accident and it's consequences amazingly well. Trust your judgement with this decision.

[Macktheknife]

I am just concerned, that the potentuall shock factor to me, could end up getting pushed back on my buitifull women and daughter, ( Who have dealt with so much already) if I react in a strong negative way to it, which is possible according to the head people!
I just do not want to be stress my girls anymore, But Really want to watch it

I have only one question,
What's the rush?
You are right to be concerned about the impact both on you and your family if the viewing should bring stuff up for you, more proof of the kind of man you are (not like we needed it)
But you know you are still dealing with the head injury, you know the risks of psychological impact and stress, on both you and your family. You also know that your judgement may not be at its best right now.
So what's the rush? The dvd will still be there when you are confident about being able to manage the situation to your satisfaction, give yourself some time to get stronger and your family time to worry just a little less. It can't hurt to delay the decision a while, and it just might help.
Best of luck

My 0.02c.
Mack

[howdamnhard]

Watch it and get it over and done with.

[BarryG]

Hi, Shaun,
If you do know what happened, all watching the video would do is confirm what you already know, really.
Your head injury is surely a physical cause of the emotional/psychological matters to which you allude, and that being the case, (short of beating your noggin again with the DVD in a heavy box ) one would think that seeing the crash on film shouldn't affect your (unconscious) brain functions.
Have you been seeing a psychologist/counsellor or anyone like that? If so, maybe they could give you some advice.
At the end of the day, I hope seeing it or nor seeing it isn't that important a part of your eventual full recovery. I love seeing here how that's all going, and sure do appreciate your openness in keeping us up to date.
Cheers and best regards
Barry

[Shaun]

Thanks for all the input! it is only 9-30 am and the mail has not arrived as yet, But when it does, I am watching it, Will get back to ya all later on

[Pex Adams]

I find your gut feeling is almost always right!

The problem with my gut, is that it always tells me its thirsty

[sAsLEX]

They said to Richard Hammon the same thing

So they played it in slow motion on his first show back and Jeremy pulled the piss out of him!

Thanks for all the input! it is only 9-30 am and the mail has not arrived as yet, But when it does, I am watching it, Will get back to ya all later on

youtube.....?

[steveb64]

I don't remember my crash - so I'm a little less clued up as to what went wrong.

In my case - I would absolutely watch the dvd. (if there was one).


In your case - I still think it would help with closure, being able to get up and get on.

Look at it, then say 'IF i can survive that, I can survive anything.'

Goodluck mate.

I can't remember my biggest one either. In fact, I can't remember the 10-15 minutes leading up to it. Or the ambulance, hospital, or most of the next three weeks!

And SHIT YEAH! - I'd watch the dvd/video if there had been any!

Frankly Shaun, you're a fairly tough nut - I figure you'll look at it, wince as you see bits flying off, think "So that's the bits I remember..." and go on with life!

Watch the video, give your girls a hug, and enjoy life!