On October 21, professional BMX rider Matt Cordova suffered a severe fall while filming the final segment for an upcoming video part—a trick he had dreamed of attempting for years.
According to his close friend Mike Murfitt, the setup felt perfect that afternoon, and after sizing up the gap several times, Matt gave the thumbs up to begin.
Tragically, Matt came just a few inches short on a jump from a 6-foot to a 12-foot quarter pipe, sending him over the handlebars and crashing onto flat ground.
Mike and his friends, Logan and Jack, quickly assisted Matt out of the bowl and realized he needed immediate medical attention.
After arriving at a local emergency room, tests revealed severe internal bleeding.
Within 15 minutes, a helicopter was called to airlift Matt to a Level 1 trauma center in Denver for emergency surgery.
Matt sustained multiple injuries, including a serious hand laceration, a fractured wrist, a concussion, bruised ribs, and a critically damaged spleen.
Doctors classified the spleen laceration as one of the worst they had seen, rating it 5.5 out of 5.
Although many similar injuries require immediate removal, Matt’s strong vital signs allowed the surgical team to attempt to save it.
His recovery is ongoing, with ICU care continuing before he can move to a recovery floor and eventually return home.
Beyond his BMX career, Matt has also developed a profession in bike park and trail building.
These injuries will sideline him from work for some time. While he carries insurance, the high deductible and extensive medical costs create a significant financial challenge.
Mike Murfitt has launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Matt during his recovery.
“If you’ve ever watched one of his incredible video parts, enjoyed his riding in person, or if he’s helped you along the way, please consider helping him out as he moves toward recovering and getting back on his feet and ultimately on his bike,” Mike wrote.
Matt’s friends and the BMX community continue to rally around him, sending positive thoughts, kind words, and financial support.
Each contribution helps ease the burden as Matt focuses on the long road to recovery.
