Tony Hawk is hopeful that he will be able to walk 'unaided' again after sustaining a horrific injury. See footage of him in hospital following the injury here:
The skateboarding legend revealed earlier this week that he had broken his leg, sharing an X-ray of the grim-looking injury.
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Now the 53-year-old has explained how he snapped his femur and said he's set his sights on walking unassisted once again.
Hawk said he was attempting a McTwist (a front flip with a 540-degree rotation) but had 'very little speed and an unsteady grab' and ended up crashing down on the halfpipe.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, he said: "I hit the wall sooner than expected in a half-squat position and it sent me straight to the flat onto my knees.
"The force of my body position upon impact broke my front leg as I came sliding to a stop."
The veteran skateboarder said he then had to 'manoeuvre' his leg back into place while he waited for an ambulance, before immediately undergoing surgery in hospital.
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The road to recovery ahead is long, and for the time being, Hawk's goal is to walk unaided once more.
He said: "Whatever comes after that will be a bonus."
Announcing the devastating injury on Instagram on Wednesday (9 March), Hawk wrote: "Yesterday sucked.
"I broke my elbow 20 years ago and managed to make a full comeback; this recovery for a broken femur will be much harder because of its severity (and my age). But I'm up for the challenge."
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Hawk noted the irony of the injury occurring the night before HBO dropped the trailer for documentary Until The Wheels Fall Off.
The doc will take a look inside Hawk's life and career, focusing on how he still continues to skate at his age.
Looking forward, he hopes to get back on the board - though he's accepted he may never be quite the same again.
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He wrote: "There is a strange irony that this happened on the eve of HBO releasing a trailer for Until The Wheels Fall Off, Sam Jones' documentary about my life & career, which has a strong focus on the philosophy of how I/we do this at our age.
"The answer is complicated, but ultimately it's because I have found my sense of purpose and shaped my identity through skating, and it nourishes my mental health immensely.
"I've said many times that I won't stop skating until I am physically unable. A broken leg - with plenty of hardware - will probably be the biggest test of that creed.
"I'll be back… maybe not at full capacity but I resigned to that notion years ago as I approached 'mid-life'.
"Thanks to my unyieldingly supportive, tolerant family - and all of you - for the love and support through the years; I wouldn't be here without you. See you on the other side."
Jack Woolfenden