Rescuers at the scene with the air ambulance. Photo: CVSRT

A main road had to be closed to allow the rescue of an injured mountain biker in the South Pennines.

The man was knocked unconscious when he hit a tree head-first on a downhill section of a mountain bike course at Portsmouth, Todmorden in West Yorkshire.

Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team was called out by Yorkshire Ambulance Service on Saturday to help with the urgent rescue from the scene of the biker.

Team spokesman Tim Ingram said: “A team doctor supported by two team paramedics worked alongside the first responding YAS crew to treat the patient who had regained consciousness, but was beginning to be quite ill.

“Due to the steep, densely wooded location of the casualty, the North West Air Ambulance wasn’t able to land nearby, so the helicopter touched down in a clearing on top of the hill.

“Once the casualty was stable, he was loaded into the vacuum mattresses, then on to a stretcher for the carry to the land ambulance, and transferred to the air ambulance.

“To facilitate the movement of the patient, the main road had to be closed for a short while. CVSRT would like to thank the local motorists who were delayed during this incident, for their patience and understanding.

“We’ve since heard that the casualty received a CT scan and was kept under observation for several hours. Thankfully, he was later released from hospital with no major injuries and minor concussion.”