Dancer's grim 5pc chance of recovery

Mirror dancer Mo Lee Kai-yin, who was critically injured after a huge screen fell on him during a concert, only has a 5 percent chance of a full recovery, his father says.

Lee's father, Reverend Derek Li Shing-lam, said in his prayer letter that assessments from Chinese and Western medical practitioners were that it is almost impossible for his 27-year-old son's spinal injuries to heal fully.

The dancer - more than one month after the boy band's concert accident on July 28, when a gigantic screen fell and hit Lee on the head - remains in critical condition in Queen Elizabeth Hospital's intensive care unit and is at risk of being paralyzed from the neck down.

The Baptist pastor said his son was still relying on a ventilator to breathe.

"The 'lucky' thing is that my son is still alive," Li said. "And our family has become closer since the incident."

He called on more prayers from the public to encourage his son.

Li said the whole family was "sad beyond words" as his normally active son could now only lie on his bed and stare at the ceiling day after day.

He also noted that Lee has been transferred to another care unit due to the Covid surge and will receive acupuncture treatment this week from traditional Chinese medicine doctors.

The father said even Chinese medicine doctors were uncertain about his son's complete recovery.

"Wearing a neck brace for a long time can cause pain in the back of the head and affect his sleep, and excessive concentration on his own breathing is also [affecting] him," Li said.

Registered Chinese medicine practitioner Poon Tsz-kong, who is not involved in Lee's treatment, said acupuncture can activate the body's ability to heal itself in repairing damage, including localized areas of the nervous system.

It is also commonly used on stroke patients and those who suffered neurological damage from car accidents or sports injuries, he said.

But Poon said its effectiveness depends on the severity of one's injuries. Poon added: "It will be ideal if his situation can be eased by 10 to 20 percent after receiving acupuncture treatment."

Li urged the government to thoroughly investigate the incident, saying his family is still waiting for details of the cause.

Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said the investigation process needs to be "very careful" and requires more time.

"We are very concerned about Mo's condition," he said. "The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has also been discussing with experts for further improvement measures."

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com