Townsville hospital treats 27 riders with ‘serious trauma’

THE number of cyclists admitted to Townsville University Hospital in the first three months of 2020 has more than doubled 2019 figures.

From January 1 to March 30, 18 cyclists were admitted after incidents on the region’s roads and nine after off-road incidents.

Earlier this year, Douglas Laurence Foley allegedly mowed down a group of five cyclists on Dalrymple Rd.

Foley then allegedly dumped the car at the wreckers before going home to sleep and shower.

Townsville University Hospital emergency director Dr Luke Lawton said the statistics represent cyclists who sustained serious injury.

“When we have to admit someone to hospital it means they’ve done some serious damage,” he said.

“These 27 cases in months aren’t your scrapes and bruises.

“These represent three minor

serious trauma that require a lot of time to recover from and a lot of work for staff right across the hospital.”

In the same period of 2019, there were eight admissions, nine in 2017, 16 in 2016 and 18 in 2015.

This year’s nine off-road incidents is also higher than 2019, when there were seven, five in 2018, four in 2017, four in 2016 and five in 2015.

“While there has been some high-profile road-related trauma we are also seeing an increase in people who are simply over-estimating their ability and coming unstuck on bike trails,” Dr Lawton said.

“We’ve seen anecdotal reports of increased sales of bikes and I’d just urge people to make sure they know what they are doing before they bite off more than they can chew.”

Gastroenterologist Dr John Masson knows the toll a hospital admission can take after he was hit in the alleged high profile hit and run incident on Dalrymple Rd in February.

“It’s been three months and things are only really now starting to get back to normal,” Dr Masson said.

“The really scary thing about this was that we were exceptionally lucky, it could have been so much worse.”

Dr Masson’s wife Kristeen, Dianne Graham, Jade Connor and Brad Wilton were the victims of the alleged hit and run.

Andrew Demack from Bicycle Queensland said there was no way to see a new trend in such a short period, and there could be a number of reasons for the fluctuation in figures.

“It is too early in the statistical cycle for it to have anything to do with people exercising more (because of COVID-19),” he said.

“I’d almost be expecting your next quarter to have a greater number of incidents.”

Mr Demack added if people were thinking about taking up cycling it was important for them to understand how to ride safely.