On Sunday, three weeks ago, 48-year-old Erik Steene from Troms participated in the Northern Norwegian Championship (NNM) in road racing in Harstad.

It would be his last bike race for a long time.

This competitive cyclist maintains a speed of about 60 kilometers per hour on the downhill just before the finish line.

Then it hit.

Head first

A deer had been wandering the path, and Steene had no time to react before she and a deer charged straight at the heavy body, head first.

– I remember everything until the accident, and I remember seeing a deer “lightning”, and then turning black, Steene told Dagbladet.

This case was first reported by the newspaper Northern lights.

The 48-year-old man lost consciousness in the crash, but recalls that he regained consciousness on the way to the ambulance.

Steene was first taken to the emergency department at the hospital in Harstad to identify her injuries.

Here they found fractures to his neck and hip, and decided that he, along with other cyclists, should be flown by air ambulance to Troms for surgery and further examinations.

– Can die

Despite his serious injury, Steene is aware that it could have been much worse.

– We’re talking about such a small margin. I could be paralyzed, or at worst die, he said.

The bike was broken into three parts, and the handlebars were full of deer fur. Looking back at the accident, he was still shocked by the incident.

– It never occurred to me that I could hit a deer during a bicycle race. And with that speed. Well, it’s not uncommon to meet wildebeest on the bike ride here. A friend of mine collided with a deer, but not at high speed, he said.

After undergoing surgery on her neck and hip, Steene had to undergo longer training. The 48-year-old man is currently being treated at the Vigr Rehabilitation Hospital.

Record length: Must have surgery

– I have received good follow-up both at the hospital in Troms and here. Now I’m getting help starting to activate my body, but it’s a bit limited on how much of my body I have to train, as I’m waiting for the fracture to heal, he says.

The neck should be kept as still as possible, and the hips should not be strained. In addition, he also suffered a fracture in his knee, and therefore found it more difficult to stand on his healthy hip.

Back on the bike

Today, Steene is partly on sick leave from his job as a QC manager, in Norwegian called quality manager, at the technology company Arcticzymes. He is aware that he must take the time to help, but has faith that he will recover.

– As far as I understand, my neck should be fine, although it might be a little stiffer than before. As for the hip, they cannot guarantee that it will heal properly after the first surgery. If not, the alternative is a prosthesis. But I still hope that it will grow!, says the optimistic native of Troms.

He was determined to get back on his bike.

– Whether there will be a few more trips, we will now have to see that, but I’ll get back to the motor. I cycle a lot and enjoy using it as a means of transportation to and from work and for recreation, says Steene.

– Out of pure curiosity. How well did you do in the race?

– It may not be a fight to win, but I’m in the second group, so it could be a decent position, he said and laughed.

And the deer seems fine. According to Steene, he ran into the forest after the collision, but was later found by the game board.

– Wildlife authorities appear to have found it and observed that it appears to be fine – with no visible signs of damage. Deer are hefty, obviously, says Steene.