Steve

My name is Matt. I am/was an avid snowmobiler. Last year (March  2^nd 2005) I was riding alone (not drinking of course) at night in -20  degree temps and a snowstorm. I was coming home from archery league at approx. 40-50 mph when I hit a tractor rut in the trail that crossed a field.

 The tractor rut allowed for snow to drift in the storm and become ice  in the temps. Before I knew what happened, I was flipping thru the  air. All I saw was a flash of light from the impact to the ground.  When I came to, my ZRT was 10 feet away upside down still running. The  hood was on my chest. I couldn't get up.

 I then used every muscle that still worked to get out my cell phone  from my pocket. With what was supposed to be my last breaths, called  family and told them send help. I couldn't breathe or move. I called  my parents 4 hrs away and told them I wrecked, I am ok, don't worry, and don't drive out here like crazy because I will be fine. But, I  knew I was a dead man. It was impossible to breath and nobody knew where I was.

 My brother called the closest place to me and told them to send  snowmobilers down to this field. They showed up 5 mins later and held  my hand. Then after awhile firefighters came down and paramedics. About 1.5 hrs later I was in an ambulance by the road. It took a lot of thinking and help but they got me to the road with no additional injury.

 I was in intensive care for a week and a regular room for 3 days. I  was allowed to go home only if I had 24 hr home care. I couldn't even get up to go to the bathroom. I was getting sponge baths. Not a good situation.

 What were my injuries you may ask? Well either the ground or the  snowmobile caused it. I am pretty sure it was the ground. I broke 2 bottom ribs. One of them went in and cut my spleen in two. That alone usually causes death within minutes when it is as severe as mine was.  That rib then hit my lung. My insides filled with blood. I was also hypothermic. After 3 days in the hospital, I developed pneumonia because the bottom of my lungs were dying from not being able to  breathe. A few weeks later the skin also peeled off my hands from the cold that night.

 That night I lost my snowmobile and almost my life. And it all could have been prevented if I would have had a TekVest on. The impact could have been spread out across my entire chest and not just a direct shot to those ribs.

  My accident made the paper and many websites as I am very active on a  few snowmobile forums (hardcoresledder and snowmobilefanatics). There were tons and tons of posts and thousands of people reading. From that there are a ton of people that did and are going to buy a TekVest.

  I have all my cat scans here from that night and from now. I have  pictures (black and white cat scan) that show it in 2 pieces and blood  all over inside me.  I currently have 2 spleens and a floating rib but no more blood.  It's painful and limits me and I don't know if I will ever be able to  ride sled again. I used to think a Tekvest was too expensive. But now  I see it's nothing in comparison to over $20,000 (American) in medical  bills and a life-long problem that I will never be able to repair. And

I still may lose ½ my spleen.

 My story already has been (haven't posted pictures of my CT's). My doctor  said if I get better I might be able to ride again next year. I have  ridden for 15 years and I missed not riding this season and had to stand seeing everyone else ride without me

Many thousands of riders are now aware of my horrible situation.  Tekvest isn't just for snow cross racers. They  are for anyone that cares about their own health and safety! I will never leave home without my Tekvest!!

 Thank you for reading this!!

Matt