Motorcyclist crushed by bike in crash urges more support of air ambulance
RACER, 58, DESCRIBES HIS ORDEAL – AND HIS GRATITUDE TO CHARITY HIT BY LOSS OF VITAL REVENUE IN LOCKDOWN
A 58-YEAR-OLD motorbike racer has described the moment he lost control on a corner and was crushed by his bike as it fell out of the air.
Chris Rollings, who lives in Birstall, was competing in a race at Cadwell Park Circuit in Lincolnshire when disaster struck in September last year.
About two thirds of the way through the race he lost control of his bike on a left-hand bend before going down a steep hill.
He said: “The bike went into the air and landed on my shoulder.
“Luckily, I was wearing the latest safety gear including an air bag suit which was activated.
“I am very grateful that it worked as without it my injuries would have been worse.”
The Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance, which is usually based at East Midlands Airport, was luckily at the circuit and it rushed him to hospital in Hull.
The helicopter had been called to the circuit near Louth after another accident, but had not been required to transport the patient in that crash.
Chris suffered a fractured and dislocated left shoulder, a broken left arm, six broken ribs, a punctured lung and damage to two discs in his spine.
He spent nine days in hospital where he underwent an operation to pin and plate his arm and pin and reconstruct his shoulder.
After being discharged, he had to wear a spinal brace for two months and have further surgery to fix his shoulder.
He is now undergoing intensive physiotherapy to assist with movement in his shoulder.
Chris said that if he had not got to hospital as quickly as he did, he could be in a much worse situation now. The trip to hospital took 13 minutes – nearly an hour less that a road ambulance would have taken.
He said: “I am so grateful to the air ambulance flying me to a hospital where I could get the right treatment I needed as quickly as possible.
“I am not a medical person but I know that made a huge difference.”
Chris said he used to ride when he was younger and then took up the sport again in 2017, taking part in amateur races around the country.
He urged people to donate to the air ambulance charity which, like many other good causes, is sufferinmg under lockdown.
He said: “The air ambulance is fantastic – and I was so lucky it was already at the race track when I had my accident. “It is really important that people support their local air ambulance as they rely on donations to remain operational. “Lockdown has forced the charity shops to close and fundraising events have been cancelled so this is really vital now. “Anyone could need the services of the air ambulance at some point in their lives.”
To support the service, call 0300 3045 999, or see:
The air ambulance is fantastic – and I was so lucky it was already at the race track when I had my accident.
Chris Rollings