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Thread: Heavily concussed biker airlifted to Palmerston North hospital

  1. #1
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    Heavily concussed biker airlifted to Palmerston North hospital

    Yes, it was “one of ours”. It was Mrs H. Heavily concussed with no memory at all of either the accident or of the half hour of riding that preceded it, or of the following hours (until about 10 am this morning) which included an ambulance ride part way to Dannevirke and a helicopter ride from the Weber/Wimbledon corner to A&E at Palmerston North.

    Jane is now stiff and sore (high-sided on a right-hand corner) with a very sore neck, bruised left shoulder and left forearm, and a bit of a graze on her left hip. She is mobile and returning to normal mentally.

    The accident happened at about 3:45pm yesterday almost exactly halfway between Ti-tree Point and Wimbledon on Route 52. We were taking the “back road” to Napier.

    It was sunny, hot (about 23 degrees) and windy. We had not been hurrying, due to a combination of road works from last summer’s floods, a tight and winding and for the past 15 or so km unfamiliar road.

    I was leading and had stopped, waiting for Jane to catch up. After about a minute I gave her a hoy on the intercom (yes, they were working famously well yesterday) and, when she didn’t reply, I turned back thinking she may have inadvertently taken the Franklin Road turnoff to the left a bit further back up the road.

    About 500m later I rounded a corner to see first a Marauder on its side facing back from whence it had come and, in the grass on the roadside about 4m further on, Jane sitting up taking off her helmet.

    I parked my bike and ran back to Jane, turning off the ignition on the Marauder, noting that its right-hand side was in very bad shape.

    After getting Jane comfortable I then stood the Marauder up and pushed it up the hill off the road and parked it alongside the ST. Left-hand bar bent right back; two massive dents in the LHS of the tank; screen trashed; speedo trashed; headlight trashed; LHS peg bent way back; Ventura tail rack bent way forward; Rjays tailbag a bit roughed up.

    About five minutes later I flagged down the first passing motorist who took off to the nearest phone (no cellphone reception for miles) and rang for an ambulance and the Police. The Police decided against the 45-minute ride from Dannevirke but the ambulance made the trip, arriving almost exactly an hour after Jane’s off. She had been conscious but obviously dazed and rambling for all of this time, with no idea of where she was or how she had come to get there.

    I helped the ambulance officer load Jane into his vehicle. At which point she turned battleship grey and nearly lost consciousness. After stabilising her, the officer radioed for a chopper. An hour later she was airlifted from the island in the intersection of the Weber/Wimbledon road to Palmerston A&E. She probably arrived there about 6:00pm last night. I arrived there by bike at about 8:00pm after having made arrangements to get the Marauder off the road, which the manager of the Titoki Forest arranged with the help of a passing Dannevirke couple on a green Harley (I’ve forgotten their names, but they were terrific).

    So we’re now back home and I’ve got Jane tucked up in bed and I am now starting to unwind (I think). A lot has happened in the past 24 hours.

    Lessons: Be careful out there. Even really good riders (as Mrs H is) can get it wrong, and “sporadic, lumpy gravity” is pretty unforgiving.
    Wear good gear. Broken bones can be relatively easily mended. It’s much harder and, at times impossible, to put back lost skin and flesh.
    The biker community is just fabulous. The couple who helped arrange stowage for the Marauder; John the ambo officer is a biker; as were two of the nurses and at least one of the Docs at Palmerston North A&E.
    Other people are pretty fab too. The guy who fetched the ambulance, the forest manager, the couple with the Holden and the trailer and, lastly but not leastly, my folks who drove up from Waikanae and provided transportation and feeding services resulting in Jane now being safely ensconced at home.

    Sign the petition to stop the Central North Island rescue helicopter being taken away (another story here).

    We’re a both bit dazed tonight in the Hitcher household but one of us is very much more hurt than the other.
    "Standing on your mother's corpse you told me that you'd wait forever." [Bryan Adams: Summer of 69]

  2. #2
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    Good grief!

    Let me know if there is anything I can do.

    Give my regards to Jane, and tell that we are pleased she is comfortable and at home.

    Best regards

    Jim, Heather, William, and Jacob
    If a man is alone in the woods and there isn't a woke Hollywood around to call him racist, is he still white?



  3. #3
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    Wow, sorry to hear that bro! The most important thing is is that she is home where she is comfortable and with family. I hope her injuries are not too bad and that shes up and about (and back on a bike!) as soon as possible. Must have been heart-pounding material for you as well, I only hope I'm never in the position to see a close loved0one go done like that.

  4. #4
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    Eeeek. Get well soon Mrs H. Mr H, hope you can really relax now after the fright.

  5. #5
    OMG Hitcher....

    I am so sorry to hear that! I am glad she is alright... let her know we are all thinking of her.

    Damn thats terrible! I hope she feels ok tomorrow, the next day always seems to be the worst...

    All the best....

  6. #6
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    Holy shit mate what a shocker. Pass on my "get well soon" messages to Mrs H. Never know when you can be caught out eh.

  7. #7
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    Guardian Angel

    Sorry to hear of the trauma and glad that the outcome has enough positives to leave you able to thank the spirits that watch over you and those that help. Only some of them are visible but just 'cause you can't see a star with the naked eye doesn't mean it aint there. Mrs H has been blessed with more time to contribute her personal magic to those she encounters, even to tell of her mishap could help someone else avoid a similar fate. Even if you're not of that persuasion a prayer or two could be in order.
    Blessings, Geoff
    Reality is an illusion encouraged by consensus.

  8. #8
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    Bad news but great to hear Partner OK Bikes can be brought , people / loved one's not that easy to find . I would think you'll have to keep eye on her as you do when you have a concusion Hope for speedy recovery
    SENSEI

    SENSEI PERFORMANCE TUNING

    " QUICKER THAN YOU SLOWER THAN ME "

  9. #9
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    get well soon

    Really sorry to hear that Hitcher, hope Mrs H is back to good health asap.
    Please pass on our regards.

    And look after yourself too - it wont have been easy for you - pour yourself a double!

  10. #10
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    Re Mrs H

    have just read you thread re Mrs Hitcher, glad shes okay, must have be gut wrencing for you, hope she makes a speedy recovery, point less offering help from up here, but my thoughts are with you both.

    F/F
    "Kiwi Biker, still a great place despite the mods "


    "Would crawl over broken glass before owning Suzuki"

    The only reason I only ride in the Iron man Class is I have no friends left to enter the two man events,
    my own fault really.

  11. #11
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    God dont ya hat that gut feeling when you first relise whos down..... bloody sorry to here this Hitch, give Mrs H my best and heres hopeing she will be up and about soon as.
    Keep us up to date aye.
    cheers DD
    (Definately Dodgy)



  12. #12
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    Really sorry to hear that. I know the road and it can catch you out.
    Glad to hear she is OK. Have you got the bike home? Need a hand?

  13. #13
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    Oh I'm so sorry to hear of the accident Hitcher, but glad to hear that Jane is ok, and all went as well as it could possibly go in the circumstances, am I correct in assuming it was a gravel road?, yes the helicopters are an absolute must in these regions aren't they, very stupid to think of getting rid of it. I hope the marauder is fixable, and you are both out there having adventures again soon

  14. #14
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    Yikes, hope she makes a full recovery !

  15. #15
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    SHittabluddybricka® ...

    I WHole heartiddly agree with all previous posts and well-whishes senti-ments ...

    TAke care there Mr and Mrs Hitcher ... ..we're thinkin' about ya ... :spudwave:

    PLease tell Mrs H that wari sends his re-guards ... and get well soons ...
    THe hand's farster than the eye ... keepan eye onda feet .. .

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