Injured biker praises Valley rescue team

Injured mountain bike rider Peter Wilson recovers in hospital after accident at Todmorden. He borke both arms - but his bike was fine!

Peter Wilson was involved in the crash last week whilst riding the downhill mountain bike course near Todmorden.

Mr Wilson, who is originally from Halifax but now lives near Preston, said from reading the story and watching helmet-mounted Gopro footage back, he now has some clue as to what happened.

“As expected from good friends the rescue was all recorded whilst the Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team dealt with me.

“After watching the video back I just felt I needed to mention what a professional and reassuring team they are,” said Mr Wilson.

“I cannot thank them enough for their time.

“On the plus side my bike is fine - and I’ll be riding again soon,” he joked.

The Mytholmroyd-based Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team were alerted to the incident last Sunday at 5.22pm to Havok Bike park off Carr Lane.

Once on-scene, team members joined the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Rapid Response paramedic and ambulance crew to treat Mr Wilson and bring his pain under control.

He waas then wrapped in a vacuum mattress and evacuating a short distance from the woodland location to the ambulance.

The rescue took two hours to complete.

Havok Bike Park is responsible for developing the cycle trails.

It is a top venue for their ‘Grassroots’ Downhill and Freeride Mountain Bike Centre.

The centre has a freeride section for the more adventurous and the elite riders out there and lots of other ideas in the pipeline.

The park is run as non profit and all rates go towards paying running costs for the park and towards maintenance and improvements of the tracks.

The Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team (CVSRT) is a 100% voluntary charity, that operates within Mountain Rescue (England & Wales) guidelines and is part of the Mid-Pennine Search & Rescue region supporting the statutory emergency services, working on behalf of West Yorkshire Police.