British cinematographer George Richmond–whose visual genius has illuminated some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, like ‘Quantum of Solace,’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and who came within a breath of death when his paraglider slammed into the Himachal mountains on June 8–is fighting back. Slowly, painfully, but fighting.A health bulletin issued by the PGIMER-Chandigarh on Saturday evening confirmed that the 54-year-old was awake, conscious, responding to commands and able to interact and communicate with his wife, who has remained steadfastly at his bedside since she flew into India, and he was airlifted to the PGIMER following a near-fatal paragliding accident in Kullu district.Richmond was part of a group of experienced paragliders who trekked from Naggar all the way to the base camp of Deo Tibba, from where they jumped off on their paragliders. This was probably his first flight and it’s not clear what happened to his controls, except that he crashed into the mountainside.According to the medical team attending on him, Richmond currently has very limited movement in both arms and no movement in either leg–the grim neurological legacy of a catastrophic dual-level cervical spine fracture. His breathing muscles remain weak, with doctors warning that should his respiratory status deteriorate, he will be managed accordingly–clinical language that signals the continued spectre of mechanical ventilation. His oxygen saturation is holding at 96 per cent on nasal support. Blood pressure and heart rate are stable; kidney function is normal. His haemoglobin, however, remains low at 8.8 g/dL. Vigorous physiotherapy is ongoing round the clock.Recovery from a dual-level cervical fracture with quadriplegia is measured not in days but in months, and often years, doctors say. Whether and to what degree limb function returns depends critically on the extent of spinal cord damage–a picture that will become clearer only as post-operative neurological monitoring progresses through the weeks ahead.The team of PGIMER doctors led by Dr Vijay Goni, Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr Nidhi Panda, Head of Neuro-anaesthesia, and Prof Ashok Kumar, Medical Superintendent are keeping constant vigil. Richmond’s family on Saturday requested the media to exercise sensitivity and observe doctor-patient confidentiality regarding the publication of his medical information. Expressing deep gratitude for the public outpouring of support and well-wishes, the family noted that Richmond had entered a critical phase of treatment and rehabilitation, and appealed for privacy to be respected during this period.The rescue operation that was mounted after the accident in Kullu involved local Himachal Pradesh authorities and the Indian Air Force, which evacuated Richmond from the crash site before an IAF helicopter airlifted him to Kullu for initial stabilisation. By the early hours of June 9, he had been shifted to the Advanced Trauma Centre at the PGIMER.A clinical and radiological assessment revealed the full extent of the damage: a fracture of the C1 vertebra–the topmost bone of the spine, at the base of the skull–combined with a fracture-dislocation at the C5-C6 level, resulting in quadriplegia. The proximity of these injuries to the spinal segments controlling diaphragmatic function placed his very ability to breathe in immediate jeopardy. Resuscitation was initiated on arrival under Advanced Trauma Life Support protocols. He was stabilised and shifted to the High Dependency Unit.Over the next four days, the PGIMER multidisciplinary team–spanning orthopaedic spine surgery, neurosurgery, neuro-anaesthesiology, critical care, rehabilitation and paramedical support–worked to optimise Richmond for definitive surgery. That surgery was performed on Thursday.PGIMER Director Dr Vivek Lal told The Tribune that Richmond had specialists from multiple disciplines working seamlessly together to deliver rapid assessment, stabilisation and definitive treatment. He pointed out such complex spinal injuries demand not only advanced surgical expertise but meticulous planning, cutting-edge infrastructure and coordinated teamwork. “We remain committed to supporting Richmond through every stage of his recovery and rehabilitation,” he said.Sources confirmed to The Tribune that Richmond was being hosted as a personal guest at Patiala Mahal–the storied palatial seat of former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh–through his close personal friendship with the former CM’s son, Raninder Singh, alias Tikku, titular heir to the Phulkian dynasty of Patiala and former president of the National Rifle Association of India.Richmond is among the most accomplished British cinematographers of his generation, the son of veteran cinematographer Anthony B. Richmond and a member of the British Society of Cinematographers.