Posted July 25, 201014 yr Bit of a shock, so glad he's ok http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/s...of-control.html Pop star cheats death in 70mph smash DARIUS SKIDS OUT OF CONTROL IN PORSCHE By Siobhan McFadyen, 25/07/2010 POP Idol singer Darius Campbell has relived the horror moment he CHEATED death when the Porsche he was in SKIDDED out of control and SMASHED at 70mph. Traumatised Darius, 29, who suffered a broken neck in the nightmare crash, told the News of the World: "It was absolutely terrifying, I thought that was going to be it. "My life flashed before my eyes and I thought I was going to die." Darius revealed he now faces an operation he fears will DAMAGE his vocal chords and DESTROY his career. But Darius, who was on holiday in Spain when the accident happened last Saturday, says he was lucky to escape with his life when the Porsche Panamera, like the one pictured below, skidded on a diesel spill and crashed into a wall. Miraculously, he and two pals in the supercar were able to stagger out of the wreckage. But Popstar To Operastar winner Darius, from Glasgow, collapsed in agony seconds later - and then realised he had no feeling in his limbs. He had broken the third vertebra - a bone in his neck - and if the injury had been millimetres to the left he'd be PARALYSED from the neck down. The crash happened during the singer's week-long break in plush Marbella. Darius explained: "I was in the passenger seat in a car with my friends, on our way to the beach. "We were driving along a winding road when we hit the spill, the tyres picked up the diesel and we skidded. "The car spun as we took a corner at 70mph and we went straight into a wall by the side of the road. "I don't remember the impact - it all happened so fast and I felt very dazed afterwards. I had my seatbelt on and the last thing I remember was being thrown forwards. "Before I knew it, I had got out of the car, but I hit the ground and I couldn't feel my arms and my legs. "I had this shooting pain in my whole body, I fell to the ground and lay there - I couldn't move." Emergency crews rushed the three pals to the Hospital Costa Del Sol, where Darius was given a CAT scan and spinal X-rays. He spent three terrifying days in a neck brace, flat on his back and unable to move - without knowing if he'd ever walk again. He told us: "The doctors were speaking in Spanish and I couldn't understand what they were saying. "That made the whole thing even more frightening. I had this long wait where I was in a lot of pain and not understanding what was going on. "I was in shock and after some time, I knew that I could move but I didn't understand what they meant. "Finally, a doctor who spoke English explained that I was very lucky and that they had kept saying it was good that it was a clean break. "He told me not to worry but if I'd broken bones a few millimetres to the left, I'd have been in big trouble. I wouldn't have been able to move my legs... and I might have died." The singer was then flown to London for an MRI scan. As well as breaking the third vertebra from the top of his spine, he had serious bruising on the fourth and fifth vertebrae. Now recuperating at home with his family in Bearsden, Glasgow, Darius said: "I'm lucky to be alive. I am recovering and I'm feeling much better, but I still have a neck brace on." Darius, who split from his fiancée, Species actress Natasha Henstridge, 35, in January after five years, is trying to avoid the risky surgery. To repair the damage, surgeons would need to cut through the throat, moving his vocal cords aside. He said: "The past few days have been some of the toughest of my life. I want to avoid the op at all costs. Obviously it could put my singing future at risk, but it's something I must consider. "I hope the veterbrae heal on their own with the aid of a neck brace. "But if that doesn't happen, they would have to operate to make sure there is no long-term damage. "I'm not going to take any chances with my health, but I want to put the op off for a few weeks and hope beyond hope the damage heals." News of the World's Doctor Hilary Jones confirmed Darius had a lucky escape. He said: "Often when people break their necks, there is damage to the spinal column, which means paralysis. These are tiny bones and they are packed in tight with millimetres between. "The crucial thing is to stabilise the fracture with the neck brace to allow healing. If that doesn't happen, an operation to repair the break, protecting the spinal column from becoming damaged, will be needed." Darius - who has become a global star with his platinum album Dive In and West End shows Chicago, Guys And Dolls and Gone With The Wind - is hoping that he won't have to cancel his commitments. He's due to present STV's The Hour this week and to headline the Glasgow Show 2010, with X Factor fave Olly Murs, 26, on Saturday. Last night determined Darius said: "I don't want to disappoint the fans. I'm hoping that with a bit more rest, I'll be able to do the shows. I don't want to wear the neck brace. I don't want to alarm anyone - but I might have to. I feel blessed that I survived and that I am even getting the chance to appear on stage." And the London-based star, whose dad Booth, 67, is in remission after battling lymphatic cancer in 2004, added: "I'm also looking forward to spending time with my family. "It really takes something like this to make you appreciate just how lucky you are in life."
July 25, 201014 yr I hope he wears the neck brace - it'd be daft to put his health at risk. If I'd done that, I wouldn't have all the problems I have now. It may be awkward now but it's worth putting up with to help his future. That's include avoiding gigs which may make it worse. It takes more than a few days for a neck to recover. I'm having treatment now for damage done 20 years ago. It's so much better to deal with it now.
July 25, 201014 yr I hope D will be sensible about this, wear the neck brace and take time off from public appearances for a while. He worries about letting his fans down.......yet they would individually tell him to get well rather than cause life-long damage that might end his career as an entertainer. Fate deals some cruel blows. Get well soon, D, if you are reading this.
July 25, 201014 yr OHHH Darius get well soon!!!!!!!!!!! Don't push yourself too much just get your self better the news of world are on the slow of the up take that Darius and Natasha are kinda back together I wounder if he will be able to fly I meaning for work overseas but once again get well soon Darius Edited July 25, 201014 yr by claireabell
July 25, 201014 yr OMG - something I dread reading something awful like this..what happens now?? thank god he is OK - my stomach is churning thinking about what could have happened!! this is bad enough for gods sake!! how will he do anything he has lined up?? I shudder to think what could have happened if he hadnt been wearing a seat belt, or if the break had been worse ,I really am hoping this is something that time can heal, coz I dont want to comtemplate an operation that could harm his voice, or even worse..in fact I cant quite beleive I am reading this, keep reading it - read a tweet from someone who saw Darius in a taxi in London wearing a neck brace on 20th July..so this must have happened a fair few days before that as he must have been in hospital, then at home - otherwise he was pushing it travelling in a london taxi ... Edited July 25, 201014 yr by prettyinpink
July 25, 201014 yr read a tweet from someone who saw Darius in a taxi in London wearing a neck brace on 20th July..so this must have happened a fair few days before that as he must have been in hospital, then at home - otherwise he was pushing it travelling in a london taxi ... Didn't someone say he was presenting Duke of Edinburgh gold awards on 19th July ?
July 25, 201014 yr yes...mm, very confusing - so this must have happened a while back, very confusing. D wrote that he was looking forward to presenting on the 21st..he was presenting on the 19th...seen on the 20th with a neck brace, have no idea when he was on holiday then, must have been some time ago or he wouldnt be getting about. I hope it has proved to be getting better more quickly than expected or isnt as serious as first thought- I cant bear the thought of Darius having to go through such a nasty operation,
July 25, 201014 yr well the duke of Edingburgh award tweeted Darius about the awards on the 19th so he must have been there..someones tweeted that they are at a wedding in London and Darius is doing a swing set..19 hours ago. # Now Sister Sledge are doing a set. Gotta love the disco about 19 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone * Reply * Retweet # Darius Campbell is doing a set at Jamie and Claire's wedding. Nice bit of swing about 21 hours ago via Twitter for iPhone * Reply * Retweet # Finished work. Go Live was a success now heading back from London to go to a wedding. 3:57 PM Jul 24th via Twitter for iPhone Edited July 25, 201014 yr by prettyinpink
July 25, 201014 yr oddly enough I just tweeted D, saying that exact thing. "don't overdo things" I think we all know him...
July 25, 201014 yr Chains and handcuffs come to mind. Still, he'd probably find a way to move around with them on. I just know the problems not caring for a neck injury can bring - for the rest of your life.
July 25, 201014 yr Take it easy Darius there no point in taking risks with your health .i cant believe this has happened i hope he ok
July 25, 201014 yr OMG cant belive that this has happened to him :( .........Wendy rang me earlier to tell me, after she had seen it in the paperr at her Mums!!!...OMG thank God he is ok *big hug*...........OMG it could've been so much worse :cry: ....cant bear to think about what could've happened, thank god he was wearing his sealt belt! Just cant belive this..........the most important thing is that he is ok, and that he gets plenty of rest and concerntrates on getting better again! Darius, i'm sending you lots of love *big hugs*, and xxxx........make sure you rest, and get better soon *hugs*
July 25, 201014 yr Please take care Darius. It doesn't bear thinking about what might have happened. We all want him to take things easy and give his body a chance to make a full recovery, but when you're young, you think you're indestructible. Wonder if Rachel know any more? Sue
July 25, 201014 yr I am so sorry to hear aobut this, I do hope Darius will get completely well. What a schock. All the best wishes. :heart:
July 25, 201014 yr Shocking news but I doubt he'll take chances with his voice and will do the sensible thing - hope he is soon on the mend and back to full health.
July 25, 201014 yr Just seen this dreadful news. What a terrible thing to happen. I hope Darius will be OK and that there are no lasting effects, especially for his voice. My best wishes to him.
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