SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Darryl Tait, Yellowknife's 19-year-old rising extreme sports star, pulled through risky surgery on Wednesday at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass., while Yellowknifers made plans to help him.

Logan Andrew, left, and Chris Stapleton just came back to Yellowknife from visiting their friend Darryl Tait in the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Pictured here on Tuesday at Boston Pizza, they were helping organize fundraisers for Tait, along with 14 other people. - Tim Edwards/NNSL photo

"It was a mechanical repair to his back with rods and pins and then a bone graft to fuse the bones back together," Jamie Tait, Darryl's father, told Yellowknifer from Boston on Wednesday after surgery.

"They did say the spinal cord was totally severed, so he probably will wind up in a wheelchair for the rest of his life now - which is hard to swallow, but it's better than being dead."

The accident that led to Darryl's hospitalization occurred while he was attempting a backflip on his snowmobile in a freestyle demonstration at the New Hampshire Grass Drags in Fremont, New Hampshire.

The snowmobile did not finish the rotation and upon connection with the ground, both Darryl and the machine were thrown into a hurdle down the hill.

According to Jamie, the snowmobile may have quit, which would not have allowed Darryl to complete the rotation due to loss of momentum.

Jamie said that they will be bringing Darryl back to Canada as soon as a bed is available at Vancouver General Hospital.

Darryl's insurance claim was rejected after the accident, and it's costing his family US$1,000 an hour for treatment in the Boston hospital.

The night before the surgery, 16 Yellowknife residents gathered at Boston Pizza to form a fundraising committee and start brainstorming ideas.

Chris Stapleton, a close friend of Darryl, had just returned from visiting him at the hospital.

"We're just trying to make him feel happier, make his self-esteem go up. Maybe we'll get him wheelchairs, or whatever he needs in the future," said Stapleton.

The group plans to gather as many people as possible to show their support with a big group photo of everyone, to be taken on Oct. 31.

Logan Andrew, who went to Boston with Stapleton, said that some friendly, smiling faces could help Darryl's morale as he recovers.

"When we were in Boston, he was able to write sort of. When he could open his eyes, he loved to see people smile. It just made his day," said Andrew.

Everyone at the gathering had great things to say about Darryl and his parents, who had volunteered and helped out with the sporting events Darryl took part in.

Jamie owned and operated Summit Air until last year, when the family moved to Atlin, B.C., after eight years in Yellowknife. He used this job to help out his son and the sporting community.

"They flew people out for snowboarding, to get practise and to compete. They're just an amazing family, they really are," said Kate Stapleton, who is heading the fundraising committee.

Craig Barbanoff sledded around with Darryl, and went to competitions with him. He also acknowledged the family's generosity.

"I took Darryl (to Snocross) a couple times. Jamie gave me his truck and trailer, and we went. They were always there for us," said Barbanoff.

Anyone who knows Darryl or just wants to show their support for him can do so at Sir John Franklin High School on Oct. 31 where a group photo will be taken and funds raised to support Tait's recovery.

Those who want to contribute to the fundraising effort can also donate and find more information on the "pull through Darryl" website.