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Kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' but loses finger tip

Andrew Moonand
Stuart Rust,South of England
Sailing Energy / Trofeo Princesa Sofia Lily Young is pictured kiteboarding. She is stood on a board on a body of water and gripping a beam that is connected to several wires. She board is airborne and a fin can be seen on its underside. She is facing in the direction of the camera and is wearing a helmet, goggles and a life jacket. Sailing Energy / Trofeo Princesa Sofia
Lily Young has returned to competing at the highest level just months after suffering serious injuries in a training accident

A professional kiteboarder said she is lucky to be alive after losing part of a finger in a training accident on the water.

Lily Young, from Weymouth, was dragged face-first through the sea when a kite line became tangled around her helmet when boarding in France.

The athlete tried to free herself by using her hands, suffering serious injuries – including the loss of the tip of her left index finger.

Now, less than four months on, Young has already returned to competing at the sport's highest level.

Warning: Graphic images below

Kiteboarder Lily Young describes the accident that cost her part of a finger

Reflecting on the incident, she said: "It was a very bad situation. I knew I probably didn't have long to get myself out of it.

"I just knew I needed to get this line off me as quick as I possibly could, and unfortunately it ended up ripping through the back of my helmet and taking my finger off before I could even try.

"I'm super grateful to still be here, let alone be continuing professional sport to a high level."

Handout Lily's left hand is pictured close up, with palm facing upward. The tip of the index finger is missing. The rest of the index finger, and the middle finger next to it, have wounds. Handout
Young lost the tip of her index finger and suffered serious hand injuries after becoming tangled in a kite line

Young said kiteboarders would usually avoid putting their hands anywhere near the lines – but that she was running on instinct as she tried to free herself.

It was only after escaping that she fully realised the severity of her injuries.

"I cut through an artery. I could see the bone and I knew the finger was gone," she said.

Handout Lily Young, a blonde woman wearing glasses, is pictured smiling at the camera. Handout
The Weymouth kiteboarder said she is "very lucky to still be here" after the incident in France

Her coach helped her to shore, where an ambulance was waiting, and she was taken to a specialist hospital for emergency surgery.

She later underwent further operations and skin grafts in the UK, followed by weeks of hand therapy.

Despite missing the winter training season, Young has now returned to the water and is targeting the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics after missing out on qualification for the Paris games in 2024.

"It was amazing to get back," she said.

"I was super nervous, but we took it slow and it was all about enjoyment.

"I feel like I've come back doing things better, with better habits and routines."

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