Rescuers at the site on Ilkley Moor. Photo: UWFRA
A mountain biker was seriously injured when he crashed on Ilkley Moor in West Yorkshire.
Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association was called out on Saturday at the request of ambulance staff to the incident near White Wells.
A team spokesperson said: “On arrival at the scene it was apparent that the casualty’s situation was critical and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was called.
The air ambulance at the scene. Photo: UWFRA
“The biker, initially unconscious, had suffered severe facial and head trauma and required immediate evacuation to hospital. The air and land ambulance medics quickly and efficiently stabilised the patient and the UWFRA team scooped and carried him to the waiting road ambulance.
“The team wish the biker all the very best and to a rapid and successful recovery.”
Saturday’s incident was the second involving mountain bikers on Ilkley Moor in less than two weeks. The Upper Wharfedale team was called out to the site on 13 April when an 18-year-old cyclist broke his leg on the moor.
Stormin'.
25 April 2020Stay at home, follow the advice given for exercise.
Tommy Barnes
26 April 2020Poor guy, imagine being so cut off from the rest of the world that you didn't know there was a virus going about that was killing hundreds of people every day in the UK.
If he hadn't been so 'off grid' he might have taken notice of the advice given to those wanting to do exercise.
On the other hand he could be a completely selfish t*** who didn't give a stuff about anyone but himself. Idiot. I'm assuming he wasn't alone and I can only wonder if his companions were from the same household.
Wait for him to get better and then give him the date of his course case.
Steve
26 April 2020Can you restrict your criticism to the facts please? Nothing in the article suggested this guy was doing anything outside the government’s guidance. I just hope he get better soon
Steve
26 April 2020Can you restrict your criticism to the facts please? Nothing in the article suggested this guy was doing anything outside the government’s guidance. I just hope he gets better soon.
John
27 April 2020This is a friend of mine.
He was riding on a path permitted by the council about 20 mins away from home. This moor has I think 5 different boundaries which some don’t permit cycling but Ilkley moor does, so fact check he was doing absolutely nothing wrong. He is a keen and experienced cyclist and this was just a horrendous accident.
Please, rather than be a loathsome troll with out any information or understanding, spare a thought for his wife, children, family and friends who are unable to visit him during this lockdown and consider the lasting impact this accident may have.
You horrible, horrible people
Ian
28 April 2020#John
People aren't being horrible, they're just find it irresponsible and selfish when folk like this guy choose to take their exercise in this type of place at the moment. He could have easily cycled around the country lanes or in some place with less chance of having a bad accident.
Now, not only has he piled a load of worry onto his family, he put the rescue team in danger of catching the virus and gave unnecessary work to the NHS who have more pressing things to deal with.
Tim
28 April 2020He was taking his daily exercise and had a horrific accident. Let’s hope if you get run over by a car tomorrow and end up with life altering injuries that people don’t berate you on the internet. No actually, let’s hope that they do and then you and your family can get a taste of your own selfish, ignorant and whole heartedly toxic medicine.
Tommy Barnes
29 April 2020The thing is Tim, if someone got knocked over by a car, that would indeed be a horrific accident.
Whatever the backlash from people on the internet, no one could say they were putting other people in danger of catching a life threatening virus due to their lack of respect for what's going on in the world.
This cyclist chose to flout the guidance and did end up putting other people in danger. And you think people are wrong to say what they think.
Steve
29 April 2020Tommy, where do you get the idea that this cyclist was flouting the guidance? Nothing in this article says that.
Tim
30 April 2020exactly, nowhere in the guidance does it say you can’t ride your bike. In fact, it’s actively encouraged.
Billy Chalis
30 April 2020Yes, absolutely, definitely, of course we're encouraged to ride our bikes but, and this is the important bit, not where this crash took place. Even if the authorities didn't pin point the exact grid reference of this place, common sense and of course the mountain rescue teams have both asked us not to cycle or walk or run or sit about in those places.
Why not?, you might be asking. Well, just look at what happened to this guy and you'll have your answer.
He chose not to listen to common sense or the mountain rescue teams.
Sophie
02 May 2020I feel sorry for you callous, judgemental, pious people who would not say any of this to him or his young children face to face.
The article did not invite comment on his actions or bring into question them, if you have no empathy ,I do hope you don't expect any for yourself.. I really hope there is never an article on here about you.
Humanity is in crisis, it's free to be kind,help the cause.
Signed a frontline NHS worker
Toby
02 May 2020I concur with Sophie on this. Where does this article invite personal comment on an horrific and life changing accident? Have some compassion and keep your comments to yourself.
In these horrible times for a guy to take some exercise on a moor only minutes away from his home and civilisation is not a crime or does it put unnecessary strain on the NHS. I just hope you are never put in his situation to then to have random strangers comment openly about you. Get a grip people!!