An air ambulance landed on top of Brean Down on Monday (February 18th) to fly a teenager to hospital after he was injured in a cycling accident.
Members of Burnham-On-Sea Coastguard, BARB Search & Rescue and South Western Ambulance Service were called to the top of Brean Down to help the mountain biker.
As pictured here, a yellow Dorset and Somerset air ambulance touched down and its paramedics helped treat the cyclist and take him onboard using a stretcher.
The teenager had suffered a head injury in an accident, confirmed Coastguards.
Due to the terrain, BARB’s multi-terrain Polaris vehicle was used to take crewmembers to the scene and also help Coastguards provide a safe area for the helicopter.
Tracy Bartram, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Communications Manager, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I can confirm that Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance airlifted a teenager to Weston General Hospital this afternoon after it was reported that they had come off their pushbike and had reduced consciousness”.
A spokesman for Burnham Coastguard added: “The team was tasked today to assist South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust medivac a teenager who had fallen and sustained a head injury while cycling on the top of Brean Down.”
He added: “A group of teenagers had decided to go for a spot of mountain biking along the challenging terrain of the Down towards the highest point. Brean Down is a very popular place for these kinds of activities as it provides lots of varied routes and challenges, so with no school and a bit of time on their hands they set off for a ride out.”
“After a good day riding and filming their skills, they were heading back, as they had done multiple times they filmed each other as they negotiated the different sized bumps, however on this occasion one of the group didn’t quite land it as he wanted and flipped over the handlebars and faceplanted the floor, luckily he was properly equipped with a full face helmet that definitely saved him from extensive facial injuries.”
“Realising the situation the group of lads quickly called for help and one went off to get a blanket from the National Trust staff. Their quick actions meant that there was no delay in getting the help they needed, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance was scrambled and was quickly on scene and ambulance crews were awaiting a transfer at the base of the Down.”
“We made our way up to the top of the Down and after a brief chat with the Air Ambulance crew they were happy his injuries were not anything serious but as it was a matter of a two-minute flight they would take him to Weston Hospital.”
“As a precaution, we had already tasked BARB to assist as they have a great little off-road vehicle which would’ve saved us a lot of time if we had to stretcher carry the young lad anywhere. Once he was safely aboard the helicopter and they had departed we were able to return to station.”
“We would like to extend praise to the group of young lads – they were quick to react in a calm and correct way and got immediate help, as a society we are always quick to point out the bad young adults but this shows there are still plenty of good ones out there who are able to deal with things in an intelligent and polite manner.”
“The lady from the National Trust was also very impressed with their ability to deal with their predicament. We wish the lad a speedy recovery and hope that he is back enjoying mountain biking again soon, and a big well done to his mates who acted so quickly – a credit to the community.”
