Bike race casualties in forest

Jan 21 2008 by Jule Wilson, The Journal

THE air ambulance was scrambled over the weekend to a charity mountain biking event at one of the region’s beauty spots.

Kielder Forest was the setting for The Bike Place and Kielder Trail Reavers Marathon Series 2008 Winter Warmer on Saturday, during which two people were injured in separate incidents.

Two hours into the event at around 11.30am, the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team (NNPMRT), which was helping to provide safety cover for competitors and spectators, was flagged down by marshalls.

Spokesman Bill Ellis, the team leader of the NNPMRT said: “A male competitor had sustained a suspected shoulder injury having fallen from his bike during the race.

“He was evacuated from the forest by team vehicle.”

But just an hour later, another event marshall contacted emergency services after a female competitor was thrown from her bike.

Mr Ellis continued: “The rescue team were contacted by Northumbria Police in response to a 999 call received from an event marshal within Kielder Forest.

“A female competitor had fallen at the bottom of a slope and been thrown from her bike. The team immediately responded and arrived at the remote forest location approximately 6km north west of Kielder village.

“The rescue team arrived ahead of the air ambulance which was not required to land – partly due to the nature of the terrain and the fact that once assessed, the nature of her injuries were not considered serious.”

Mr Ellis said the woman, who has not been identified, sustained superficial cuts as well as an injury to her shoulder.

He added: “The casualty was transported back to Kielder by four-wheel-drive ambulance where further assessment was conducted by the ambulance service.

“None of the injuries sustained were thought to be serious.” The Winter Warmer is the first annual event in a series of four to be staged between now and October this year. All proceeds are shared between organisers the Kielder Trail Reavers and the Great North Air Ambulance. The series is sponsored by mountain bike retailer The Bike Place.

No official from the event was available for comment.