Fire destroys paralysed biker's freedom in Corbridge

David Burdus, 63, was devastated to see his Martin Conquest trike on fire outside his home on the outskirts of Corbridge.

He said the trike, a machine designed specifically for wheelchair users, gave him back his freedom and 'pure enjoyment' after being paralysed in a motorbike accident in 1983 at age 21.

The trike on fire outside David's home (Image: Supplied) "I'd literally just set the trike away to warm up a touch, went into the house to get a jacket and helmet, and I was with one of my grandsons and we were going to go out for a ride," he said.

The fire also damaged his motability van, an adapted Mercedes Sprinter, and the front of the vehicle was melted in the blaze.

David visited No.10 Downing Street with his Martin Conquest trike while raising the profile of employing disabled people for the government's Disability Confident Scheme (Image: Supplied)

The van was due to go into the garage at the time so there was a hire car parked in his driveway, which was also damaged during the fire on November 4 at 12.15pm.

David, an access and inclusive design consultant, said he 'cannot fathom' how the fire began.

The Mercedes van and the hire car (Image: Supplied) "I just heard my wife screaming a bloodcurdling scream that the trike was on fire, and my God, was it on fire, it was unbelievable."

David rang the fire brigade which he said arrived in five or six minutes.

David before his life-changing accident (Image: Supplied) "I've got to thank them because they absolutely stopped the Mercedes Sprinter from going up. That had a full tank of fuel and it was right next to the house - if that had gone up, God only knows what would have happened.

"I'm convinced if that van had gone up, and the hire car had a full tank of fuel too, the house would have definitely been damaged or caught fire in some way."

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Firefighters at the scene (Image: Supplied) David has started a GoFundMe page to raise the money needed to purchase another Martin Conquest trike. 

The model was discontinued in 2013 and is no longer produced, making them as 'rare as gold dust', David said.

"I couldn't believe I found another one because they just don't come up. They unfortunately only come up when someone passes away usually."

The new Martin Conquest trike for sale in Spain (Image: Supplied) The trike is in Spain selling for £17,000, but David also needs to pay to ship it to the UK and HMRC taxes, meaning there will be a funding shortfall of approximately £14,000 despite his insurance payout.

"I thought that was it, game over, I'm not going to be able to ride again, there's no way I'll find another one of these.

"Bikers will understand, when I'm riding that bike and sitting in that cockpit, I feel like the king of the road. You can go out with other bikers and you don't think of the chair, it's just you and the bike. It's like a dream machine, I even go to Tesco in it.  

"I don't know what I'll do if I don't get this bike, it will be heart-wrenching." 

To donate to David's GoFundMe, go to https://www.gofundme.com.