Biker’s lucky escape from perilous plunge
‘When I woke up I was lying in an open culvert trapped by the bike across my legs’
A MOTORCYCLIST who police said could have lain undiscovered for weeks made a superhuman effort to escape a ravine.
Nick McClellan, 64, was knocked unconscious in the recent crash, on the B842, near Baraskomil farm on the Peninver road.
The steep fall, of about 25 feet, ended with his heavy 865cc machine lying across his legs.
Mr McClellan said: ‘I cannot remember what happened immediately before.
‘When I woke up I was lying in an open culvert trapped by the bike across my legs.
Above me
‘My helmet was above me on the bike so I must have come to before and taken it off.
‘I put a hell of a lot of force into lifting the bike in an effort to get out and crawled back up to the road.
‘Once there I was reasonably safe.
‘Later a police officer told me if I had not managed to untrap myself from under the motorbike, I could have laid there unseen for many weeks.’
It was just before 5pm and Mr McClellan was spotted by motorists Sarah Livingstone and Laura Cook.
They called an ambulance which took him to Campbeltown Hospital, where he was found to have escaped with bad bruising.
A police spokesperson said: ‘Police and ambulance staff attended a report of a motor cycle crash.
‘A man had come off and injured his back.
‘There were no other vehicles involved in the incident.
‘The road was closed while the incident was being dealt with but was reopened about 5.45pm.’
When Mr McClellan spoke to the Courier from his Tomintoul home, where he is recovering, he said: ‘I met quite a few kind Kintyre people that evening and the next day.
‘There are a lot of warm hearted people in Campbeltown. Everybody was really nice and helpful with a personal touch you do not get in big towns.
‘My wife called my son-in-law, Scott Downie, who has a trailer. He arranged to stay at the Craigard Hotel.
‘He arrived after midnight and the proprietor made sure he could enter.
‘The following day Kintyre man Robert Wilson helped Scott extract the bike.’
Mr McClellan, a former oil worker, bought the bike two years ago. He had a couple of days off so decided to explore a bit of Scotland he had not previously seen.
Since retirement he has worked as a guide at Glenlivet distillery and had booked a tour round Springbank the next day.
Mr McClellan said: ‘Returning to biking was on my bucket list. I will get back on and then make a decision.
‘I intend to make my way back to Campbeltown and Springbank but will hopefully avoid a visit to the hospital next time.’