Family and friends are rallying round a man who broke his back after falling three storeys at a friend's birthday barbecue.

Clinton Madgwick has undergone two operations on his lumber vertebrae but doctors say it could take a year for him to walk again without assistance.

The 27-year-old was just a week away from running his first marathon to raise funds for children in South Africa when the accident happened.

Friend Chloé Newcomb Hodgetts yesterday described the tragic events which unfolded as she celebrated her 28th birthday.

She said: "Clinton is a fighter and we hope with all we have that he will regain as much independence and be able to live as normal a life as possible, but it will be a long and challenging road.

"I and the others that love him will be there all the way. At present he has limited movement and sensation from the waist down. The prognosis is that one day he will be able to 'walk' again. When I say walk, it is not walk as you and I know it. The next phase is intensive rehab for four to five hours a day at a special centre, when he has recovered from surgery. He will essentially have to learn to live again.

"Within a year it is hoped he will walk alone to some degree."

Miss Newcomb Hodgetts, a British scientist at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), said Mr. Madgwick had joined her and two friends last Saturday on a deep sea fishing trip to celebrate her birthday.

Mr. Madgwick caught a 50-pound wahoo "the biggest catch of the day" and they headed back to her apartment at the BIOS staff housing to cook the catch.

"Clinton prepared the fish and was barbecuing it for us," said Miss Newcomb Hodgetts.

"It was a small gathering of maybe 20 people on the wrap-around balcony of the top floor.

"While we waited for the food to cook Clinton and I chatted, leaning back against the balcony railings slightly.

"All of a sudden, we heard a crack and the balcony railings disintegrated. I had my arms in front of me holding a drink and fell to my knees, but Clinton was gripping the balcony rail behind him and I guess reached back for support, but was propelled backwards over the edge.

"Friends called 911 as I ran down to him and cradled him. Paramedics transferred him to the King Edward [VII Memorial Hospital] (KEMH). He was then flown to Boston [Massachusetts General Hospital] on Sunday night after spending the first night in ICU [the Intensive Care Unit]."

Miss Newcomb Hodgetts praised the KEMH paramedic as "outstanding" and commended the ICU nurses.

"Scans revealed an exploded vertebrae to be the primary concern," she said. "On Monday Clinton had major surgery on his L4 vertebrae, which essentially exploded on impact.

"They removed the back of the vertebrae to relieve the pressure that was keeping the nerve mass bundled towards the front. Nerves had exploded out of the spinal column into the surrounding area and were gathered and replaced.

"The extent of their damage is uncertain and this will determine his recovery abilities."

Miss Newcomb Hodgetts said: "On Wednesday he had his biggest and final surgery. They operated on the same vertebrae from the front, through the belly, which is obviously major as they need to move the organs out of the way.

"He was in surgery for five-and-a-half hours. They released more pressure from the front and are hopeful this should help him regain more movement and sensation.

"He will remain in Boston over the coming months to a year in order to regain life skills."

Mr. Madgwick, a South African employed in hedge fund administration, was due to take part in the New York City Marathon yesterday. He was raising funds for the PricewaterhouseCoopers Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative, which he used to coordinate as a former employee in his home country.

Miss Newcomb Hodgetts said: "Clinton is very sporty. This fitness and muscular strength will hasten his recovery.

"Due to his marathon training he was sober at the time of the fall this was a tragic accident.

"Clinton is keen to thank everyone for all of their support and is very grateful to have such wonderful people in his life.

"Their moral support will be invaluable over the coming months of rehab which are sure to be frustrating and hard work.

"I have been with him every second of the way so far and his strength of mind, character and heart has been astounding, and deserves great respect.

"Together we are getting through these physically and emotionally very challenging days. I will remain with him as long as he needs me before having to return to work.

"We are also grateful for the understanding and support of our respective employers."

Miss Newcomb Hodgetts said although Mr. Madgwick is "not up to visitors" at present, he expresses his gratitude to family and friends for their "fantastic" support.