WHOOPS! Head injury + cardiac arrest, and at such a young age!
 

So much for the "healthful" sport of mountain biking!

Mike


http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/...3390_news.html

You Yangs rider flown to hospital

Courtney Crane | September 23rd, 2013

A MAN has been flown to hospital in a critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest and head injuries during a downhill mountain biking competition in the You Yangs yesterday.

Sean Craig fell from his bike on a flat section of the track while competing in the over-35s category of the You Yangs Mountain Bike Club's annual Cressy Descent.

Paramedic Ron Baars said Mr Craig, aged in his 30s, had been revived by first-aid personnel before ambulance crews reached the remote scene about 1pm.

"He's had a head injury from a front-on strike and he was found to be in cardiac arrest by the first crew who reached him, so they've given him a shock and he has been sedated and intubated by paramedics," he said.

Mr Craig was taken to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne by helicopter.

You Yangs Mountain Bike Club vice-president Dave Brown said it was not known if Mr Craig had been competing as an individual or if he was associated with a mountain bike club.

Mr Brown said a nearby track marshall had discovered Mr Craig on the ground not breathing after hearing about the crash.

Many of the 250 riders due to take part in the competition had their races cancelled following the incident.

"People often get broken bones in this sport but this is really out of the ordinary," Mr Brown said.

"It seems something's gone wrong while riding which has made him come off, but no one actually saw it happen."

Riders told the Geelong Advertiser that Mr Craig had fallen on one of the flattest and easiest sections of the track, which includes rock gardens and steep descents on loose dirt tracks.