How did Christopher Reeves get paralyzed?

Christopher Reeve was an American actor, best known for playing the title character in the film Superman (1978) and three sequels.

Christopher Reeves got paralyzed after he was involved in an accident whilst horse riding on May 27 1995.

According to witnesses, Reeve’s horse started the third fence jump and then abruptly stopped. Reeve fell forward off the horse, holding on to the reins.

His hands became entangled, and the bridle and bit were yanked from the horse. He hit the far side of the fence head first, shattering his first and second vertebrae.

The resulting cervical spinal injury rendered him paralyzed from the neck down and brought his breathing to a halt.

Three minutes later, paramedics arrived and immediately took action to get air into his lungs. He was first taken to a local hospital before being helicoptered to the University of Virginia Medical Center.

He had no memory of the accident. The injury left him in a wheelchair and ventilator for the rest of his life.