Rescue – mountain biker near Kilburn

TUESDAY 16TH JANUARY 2024 (1432)

North Yorkshire Police contacted us in the afternoon after they had taken a report of a mountain biker with a knee injury in woodland north-west of Kilburn, Thirsk. Team members were deployed from various locations – three of them taking a Team Land Rover from our Base and others making their own way using their personal vehicles. Meanwhile our call-out officer contacted the casualty by phone to check on his condition and to confirm his location. He was unable to stand and was getting cold and, although he had been riding alone, another biker had come across him and was waiting there until assistance arrived.

Once our Team members arrived and assessed his injuries it was evident that his injury was serious enough to warrant an ambulance and so the Yorkshire Ambulance Service was contacted. The casualty’s leg was stabilised using a vacuum splint and he was lifted onto a mountain rescue stretcher, wrapped within a warm casualty bag, then carried and ‘wheeled’ for approximately 500-metres to a forest track at which point he was transferred to the ambulance. We wish him well with his recovery and would like to pass our thanks to the rider who initially stayed with him and others who helped out later with warm clothing and by providing directions to our volunteer rescue members.

Sixteen Cleveland MRT were involved for up to 4.25-hours (by the time our Land Rover was returned to Base and made call-out ready).