Cyclist who broke back praises swift air rescue

Roger Moffatt praised rescuers for flying him to hospital within 30 minutes

A man who broke his back while mountain biking in a forest has praised rescuers who managed to get him to hospital within 30 minutes.

A ranger cut down trees to help a Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS) get to Roger Moffatt after he fell from his bike in Whinlatter Forest in the Lake District.

The accident happened when the 57-year-old from Kendal was exploring trails on a hired electric bike with his two sons in March 2023.

Mr Moffatt, who has made a full recovery, praised the team for saving him from worse injury.

Rescuers had to cut down trees to come to the aid of the 57-year-old

He said: “On one of the downhill sections I mistimed a jump which sent me off the track and down a steep drop.

"This led to me being thrown over the handlebars, landing head-first and going into some trees. I was fully conscious, but realised something was seriously wrong.”

Nearby cyclists raised the alarm and a forest ranger cut back trees to clear a path for the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team (KMRT).

They arrived within 13 minutes from their base in Langwathby, Penrith, and Mr Moffatt was given morphine.

'Very reassuring'

Instead of enduring a one-hour road journey, the patient was flown to Carlisle's Cumberland Infirmary within 14 minutes, GNAA said.

Two days later he was transferred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle where he spent a week.

“The GNAAS team was very professional and very reassuring, "Mr Moffatt said.

"If it hadn't been for them transporting me to hospital, I am sure I would have suffered much more pain and could have aggravated the injuries which I had sustained.

"This could have potentially led to a longer recovery time and more damage."