AN incident in which a rider was injured during a major New Forest cycling event has been referred to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Motorists stopped to help the rider, who careered off Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Drive at Bolderwood, coming off his bike after reportedly swerving to avoid a car.
This vehicle also left the road and ended up in a ditch. It is understood the occupants were unhurt.
The accident took place on Bolderwood Arboretum Ornamental Drive in Bolderwood (picture: Google)
The rider was taking part in the New Forest Tour, run by UK Cycling Events (UKCE), when the accident happened just before midday on Saturday.
One motorist flagged down to help spoke anonymously to the A&T afterwards, saying the cyclist was unconscious for nearly 10 minutes.
“We were very shocked by this. The chap nearly died in front of us,” he said.
“He was lying on his back. My wife is first aid trained and got him into the recovery position as he was struggling for air.
“She rolled him onto his side and he then coughed up a lot of blood and started breathing. Basically, if he had been left on his back he would have died because he was not getting air.”
Despite regaining consciousness at the scene and trying to stand, the cyclist was unable to speak, the motorist said, even to give his name.
UKCE’s medical number, printed on the cyclist’s bib, was dialled but had not arrived by the time paramedics got there, responding to a 999 call.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight air ambulance was among those dispatched.
A spokesperson for the helicopter charity said: “The critical care team consisting of a doctor and a specialist paramedic provided treatment to a patient on scene before escorting them to hospital by road ambulance for further treatment.”
No confirmation as to the cyclist’s condition has been received by the A&T.
The motorist said he was concerned about the safety of cycling events in the national park: “This is essentially a race,” he said. “They don’t call it a race, but they still publish the times, so it’s a race in all but name.
“Many folk may well expect the roads to be fenced off from ponies, which of course they are not on the minor roads.”
New Forest National Park Authority access and learning manager Jim Mitchell said he sending his best wishes to the rider and his family, adding: “For the safety of all in this working Forest, we partnered with other Forest organisations to create the New Forest Cycle Event Organiser’s Charter,” he explained.
“New Forest District Council also convenes a New Forest Safety Advisory Group (SAG), which includes representatives from the emergency services, and we note that this cycling event is on its event register.”
An NFDC spokesperson said the incident would be reported to the HSE so “they can determine any further action”.
The spokesperson continued: “Any notifications of future cycling events that the safety advisory group receives will be forwarded to the HSE, along with this documentation, for them to review in light of this recent incident and to consider whether control measures put in place by the event organiser are suitable.”
The A&T has contacted the HSE for comment.
A UKCE spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a rider taking part in our event was involved in an accident in the Bolderwood area on Saturday.
“We are in contact with the rider and their family and wish them the speediest of recovery.”
But the organisation did not respond to a request to comment on whether its safety measures would be reviewed for future events.
The New Forest Tour starts and finishes at Gang Warily recreation ground with four routes ranging from 17km to 162km. The longest route stretches to Downton near Fordingbridge.