Forest airlift for injured mountain biker

http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/201...mountain-biker

Forest airlift for injured mountain biker

John McHale, Reporter
Wednesday 22 June 2011 11:23 PM GMT
The injured Glentress mountain biker is winched into the helicopter.
Photo: Tweed Valley MRT

A mountain biker was airlifted to hospital after suffering serious
injuries on a forest ‘black route’.

The 40-year-old man fell from his machine on the Deliverance trail in
the Glentress Forest near Peebles in the Scottish Borders.

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 1.15pm today,
Wednesday, after reports the biker had broken his elbow and dislocated
his shoulder.

Seven team members went to the man’s aid after two ambulance
paramedics reported they were able to reach the injured cyclist on
foot but could not get him back to their ambulance. The route is
several hundred metres from the nearest road.

Rescue team members joined paramedics at the scene and he was treated
before being winched aboard a Royal Navy Sea King from HMS Gannet in
Ayrshire, and flown to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The aircraft was
unable to land in the forest, but the crew was able to hover over the
site and winch the man on to the helicopter.

Two police officers and three Forestry Commission rangers also helped
in the rescue operation.

Dave Wright, TVMRT search manager, said: “Mountain biking is proving
increasingly popular in the Scottish Borders and as such Tweed Valley
Mountain Rescue Team train regularly to respond to mountain biking
incidents and the common injuries associated with the sport.

“Although serious incidents are relatively rare, this incident shows
that joint working between the police, ambulance service, Forestry
Commission and Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team is invaluable.”

The Glentress mountain biking trail is one of southern Scotland’s
7stanes centres, which span the area from Dumfries and Galloway to the
Scottish Borders. Each has a ‘stane’ stone sculpture depicting a local
myth or legend.

The mountain bike trails are graded from the easiest, green, suitable
for beginners with basic skills, up to black – rated severe – aimed at
expert riders with top fitness and good off-road bikes.

The Glentress black route is 29km (18 miles) long and, as well as
Deliverance, has sections with imaginative names such as Soor Plums,
Britney Spears and The Bitch.

Originally Posted by Mike Vandeman[_4_]

http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/201...mountain-biker

Forest airlift for injured mountain biker

John McHale, Reporter
Wednesday 22 June 2011 11:23 PM GMT
The injured Glentress mountain biker is winched into the helicopter.
Photo: Tweed Valley MRT

A mountain biker was airlifted to hospital after suffering serious
injuries on a forest ‘black route’.

The 40-year-old man fell from his machine on the Deliverance trail in
the Glentress Forest near Peebles in the Scottish Borders.

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team was alerted at 1.15pm today,
Wednesday, after reports the biker had broken his elbow and dislocated
his shoulder.

Seven team members went to the man’s aid after two ambulance
paramedics reported they were able to reach the injured cyclist on
foot but could not get him back to their ambulance. The route is
several hundred metres from the nearest road.

Rescue team members joined paramedics at the scene and he was treated
before being winched aboard a Royal Navy Sea King from HMS Gannet in
Ayrshire, and flown to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The aircraft was
unable to land in the forest, but the crew was able to hover over the
site and winch the man on to the helicopter.

Two police officers and three Forestry Commission rangers also helped
in the rescue operation.

Dave Wright, TVMRT search manager, said: “Mountain biking is proving
increasingly popular in the Scottish Borders and as such Tweed Valley
Mountain Rescue Team train regularly to respond to mountain biking
incidents and the common injuries associated with the sport.

“Although serious incidents are relatively rare, this incident shows
that joint working between the police, ambulance service, Forestry
Commission and Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team is invaluable.”

The Glentress mountain biking trail is one of southern Scotland’s
7stanes centres, which span the area from Dumfries and Galloway to the
Scottish Borders. Each has a ‘stane’ stone sculpture depicting a local
myth or legend.

The mountain bike trails are graded from the easiest, green, suitable
for beginners with basic skills, up to black – rated severe – aimed at
expert riders with top fitness and good off-road bikes.

The Glentress black route is 29km (18 miles) long and, as well as
Deliverance, has sections with imaginative names such as Soor Plums,
Britney Spears and The Bitch.

Ouch.. Impressive work by the emergency services though!