Coastguard helicopter extracts mountin biker from Ballyhoura

Popoutman

Today (Sunday) myself and a few others from UL were doing a few loops around Ballyhoura, when we came across an incident in progress, where a young lady had come off her bike at the first section of boardwalk on the return of the brown loop.
When we arrived, the chopper had already been called in, and the young lady in question was being made as comfortable as possible with a bivvy bag and jackets; and there was first aiders from the trailhead already present as well.

I didn't get the identity of the group she was in to pass on messages of goodwill, but I'd hope that she is recovering okay in the Regional tonight.

Take care out there - and it's fantastic that we have the capability of remote extraction via helicopter if needed.

StevieGriff

Hope she's ok. Can get a nasty slip off them boardwalks, as much as I enjoy them sometimes I can't help but think that they are an unnecessary risk as it's like glass when wet!

Popoutman

There's a lot of new sticks with a grippy surface with gravel in it, similar to the road surfacing coming up to new junctions. Poor girl came off one of the newly upgraded bits.

Still no news, so hopefully that's good news.

Knobbly Tyres

She was a 26 year old competitor in the Beast of Ballyhoura according to press wires, suffered a few broken bone but it is believed to be nothing life threatening thankfully.

http://knobblytyres.com/26-year-old-airlifted-from-ballyhoura-after-accident/

ThisRegard

According to the Coastguard she was unconscious in water down a ravine and herself and an advanced paramedic were winched up and off to Limerick hospital, I haven't seen any further details on her condition.

Knobbly Tyres

ThisRegard wrote: »

According to the Coastguard she was unconscious in water down a ravine and herself and an advanced paramedic were winched up and off to Limerick hospital, I haven't seen any further details on her condition.

Bloody hell! Hope she's recovering anyway, sounds like a nasty fall by all accounts.

PerrDub

Let's hope she recovers from this well and is back on the bike before too long...

Though an incident like this will highlight the fact that mountain biking is not Tennis or Golf, anyone thinking of taking it up or who is new to the sport should be aware of the risks involved, and be prepared...

...By that I mean have a bike in good working order, tyres pumped and brakes checked. And a helmet before you even get on the bike, with a good pair of long finger gloves, lightweight elbow and knee pads can also be used if you think you'll need it.
Also don't go out alone if you are new, always have a friend or friends with you, and have your mobile fully charged in case you need to call emergency services and guide them to your location if an accident occurs. At least one person in your group should have a compact first aid kit, which you can buy in most good bike stores, and they fit easily into your backpack or jersey pocket...

Not trying to put people off, it's a great sport once you are competent on the bike, but accidents can happen even on well designed and maintained tracks like Ballyhoura.