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I just need to write this down.
We've been riding every wednesday night for 21 years in South Hobart.
In that time there has been 3 rides that have ended with someone in an ambulance, plus a few more less serious A&E patients.
Last week however, a rider had a potentially life ending accident. Over the bars & headfirst into the ground.
And that's when he had some good luck. The rider behind him is a doctor and others were able to start CPR within minutes. Ambulances were on the scene within 15 minutes and the rest of us lit the trail & guided the paramedics to the site. A 4x4 track was found and an ambulance was able to get within meters of him instead of having to carry a stretcher off the hill.
Latest update from his family is that he's fractured 4 vertebrae in his neck but only bruised the spinal cord. He's awake & communicating with his family but still can't breathe for himself.
Still very early days in his recovery.
Our riding group is still coming to terms with what happened. I know I'm thinking about how I ride & the risks I'm prepared to take.
Anyway, I just needed to say stay safe out there.
Ooh, that is heavy. Hope your mate recovers well.
That is heavy. And a huge shock to all those involved. Quite normal to feel shaken and rethink their own attitude to risk.
Look after each other, some will want to talk and some may not.
You're on a massive comedown.
You kept the heid when you needed to. Superb work.
hope your mate makes a good recovery.
this may be of benefit to some of you:
https://restartaheart.yas.nhs.uk/survivors/support-for-bystanders-who-have-given-cpr/
There are always so many thoughts and feelings around these events, they’re normal. If you or others are struggling with them, never be afraid to say something isn’t right. People will listen and that is sometimes all you need
Thanks for the link P20.
we had a debrief that night and most of the group have gotten together a couple of times since.
His family have kept in contact with us, which is great of them in the circumstances.
I’m personally having flashbacks to my wife having a cardiac arrest 20 years ago. She was also extremely lucky and made a full recovery.
Glad to hear he had such a great group with him to take care of him.
I nearly ran over a rider in the dark few years ago. Very tame trail but he'd been very unlucky and was unable to move and had been laying there since before twilight. Fortunately he made a full recovery.
It definitely makes me think twice about riding alone.
Great that he had such solid support and level headedness around him. I wish your mate all the very best in his recovery.
In terms of risk, was he pushing it or was this one of those everyday "oops" style crashes that we all have had. The type where you are riding well within you limits but the terrain or a lapse in concentration simply catches you out. The reason for asking this is that the former is a lot easier to avoid than the later.
It was just a roll down chute, nothing extreme. We think he just clipped a rock on the side and went OTB
It was at night, so he probably never saw it.
He is 65 and super fit. He came to riding in his 50's after some lucky escapes in his white water kayaking days.
Nothing like as serious as yours but I broke my arm riding alone a few months ago, where there was no telephone signal. It was a long and painful walk out (thanks again to those two Irish guys who found me on the fire road if you're here)
I've since bought myself a satellite distress beacon, if that had been a leg I'd have been ****ed. Doesn't help much if I'm unconscious but it's a little more peace of mind, it's amazing how an accident can shake you up.