Mark Webber seriously injured in bike accident

[HeilSvenska]

Race car drivers and bikes don't mix. At all.

Australian Formula One driver Mark Webber has been airlifted to hospital in Hobart after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle in his own charity event in Tasmania. Webber was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital by helicopter from Fortescue Bay on the Tasman Peninsula after colliding head-on with a car during the mountain bike leg of the Mark Webber Pure Tasmania Challenge. Rescuers say Webber has a broken leg, but is in a stable condition. A member of the rescue team, Sergeant Damien Bidgood, said the incident appears to have been an unfortunate accident. "Basically Mark was riding down the Fortescue Road and he's had an accident running into a car coming the other way and basically broken his lower leg," he said. Webber Challenge media manager Nancy Cook says Webber is disappointed his race has been ended by an accident. "Mark's been involved in a minor accident, he's fine," she said. "He's being treated, he's really disappointed that he's not going to be able to continue but he's well and being looked after." Webber Challenge Organiser, Geoff Donohue, says he Webber is in good spirits but will stay in hospital for about three days. "They'll be inserting a rod this afternoon to hold that [leg] in position - and that's about all I know at the moment - that he will have the best rehabilitation, so it's a little early," he said. The incident could see Webber out of action for at least six weeks. The Mark Webber challenge is a 250-kilometre multi-sport event across Tasmania which sees competitors mountain bike, kayak and trek a daily course to raise funds for charity. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...22/2427065.htm

[Erez]

hope he feels well soon.

[bluedemon]

Good to hear that it wasn't too serious, hope he gets better soon.

[styla21]

Sad, considering he was putting on the event for charity. The event raised $1.5m through the Mark Webber challenge.

[RC45]

Why didnt they close the road off for the cycle event? Seems odd to have oncoming traffic during a cycling event.

[HeilSvenska]

You know those Australians. Always living for lethal thrills.

[Mattk]

It was most likely held in an area of low population where there were few roads. Closing off the road would have hemmed in too many people. Besides, they weren't exactly expecting heavy traffic.

[Juho]

Also, according to the story he was going down a hill, and a car was going up a hill...
How did he hit the car?

[Mattk]

^Tasmania is full of winding roads. This accident is not entirely surprising. He should be ready for action to do pre-season testing, so no worries there.

[RC45]

Originally Posted by Mattk ^Tasmania is full of winding roads. This accident is not entirely surprising. He should be ready for action to do pre-season testing, so no worries there.

All the more reson to close the road for a cycle tour.
Cycle tour are held all over the world, and complex narrow roads are closed all the time.

Why?

To prevent what happened.

Imagine if Webber had of died?

[SHIZL]

if it was a mountain biking event how did he get hit on a road i guess double track ? should of found some nice single tracks

[Mattk]

It's not a cycling tour. It's a race which just happens to contain a segment where competitors cycle on the road, which cyclists regularly do anyway (because it's the law). Nothing has ever happened in the years this event has been happening. I don't think there is enough danger to warrant road closure. That said, Tasmanians are a bit backwards in many respects.

[styla21]

Originally Posted by Mattk That said, Tasmanians are a bit backwards in many respects.

ROFL.
Aussie inside joke ftw.

[Mattk]

Tasmania's greatest export is eighteen year olds, according to a former lecturer who abandoned Tasmania for Canberra at that same age.

[HeilSvenska]

Isn't Tasmania so screwed up that even the Tasmanian Devils are dying off because of STDs?