Saturday 24th August 2013 – 7.10pm – Chris Kowalik.
A man who fell from his mountain bike in south Shropshire hitting his head avoided being knocked unconscious by his helmet.
He fell from his bike at a mountain biking event off Lower Wood Road, Ludlow to where West Midlands Ambulance Service was called shortly after 4pm today.
An advanced community paramedic in a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance crew and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Staffordshire attended.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The event’s on-site medical team had already immobilised the man who is in his thirties. He was said to have fallen from his bike while going downhill at speed. He hit his head and his helmet was badly damaged; cracked in three places, but he hadn’t been knocked unconscious. Although wearing helmets would have been compulsory at an organised event, an incident such as it shows why it is important for all cyclists to wear them.
“He did have lower back pain and, in addition to having been immobilised, he was given pain relief by the land and air ambulance crews and was flown to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further assessment and treatment.”
Ends
I think wearing helmets should be made a legal requirement. I too came off my bike head first and cracked my new helmet, whilst road cycling. I fractured my jaw and had cuts and crazes, and a sore head but thankfully nothing more serious.