Dramatic rescue after mountain biker crashes in Shropshire woods
Paramedics were forced to carry out a dramatic rescue operation to treat a mountain biker who crashed in a wood near Shrewsbury.
The 46-year-old man came off his bike at Eastridge Wood, Habberley, near Pontesbury and hit a tree stump, suffering a suspected dislocated shoulder and fractured ribs.
Ambulance crews had to climb 30ft up a 60-degree slope before they could treat the man, before using ropes to lower him to a six-wheel drive vehicle which took him to an ambulance.
Jamie Arrowsmith, West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman, said: "Crews were called to reports of a 46-year-old man who had come off his mountain bike on a steep downhill track. It is believed he was thrown over his handlebars before colliding with a tree stump.
"He had suffered a suspected dislocated shoulder and suspected fractured ribs.
"Due to his difficult location, crews had to walk half-a-mile from the ambulance before finding the patient, who remained conscious throughout. They had to climb approximately 30ft up a 60-degree slope before being able to begin treating the man.
"He was initially put onto a scoop stretcher before the trust's HART team liaised with the fire service in order to establish the safest way to get the man back to the ambulance.
"Using a rope system, and after the man was placed onto a MIBS stretcher, he was carefully lowered down the descent to where the HART team's Polaris six-wheel drive vehicle was waiting.
"After reaching the ambulance, the patient was taken to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further assessment and treatment."
The incident happened at 2.50pm on Sunday and two ambulances, together with a paramedic officer in a rapid response vehicle and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) attended the scene.
