Greymouth man survives accident [Archive]

Murray

11th October 2009, 08:35

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602555

Unbelievable that this can happen on a group ride. maybe it is true that harley riders are more interested in looking at themselves and how they look rather than worrying about other people on the road??

ynot slow

11th October 2009, 08:45

I bet he waved like crazy when they arrived to rescue him.

CookMySock

11th October 2009, 08:45

West Coast Search and Rescue co-ordinator Sean Judd said the rescue was a "massive" effort.

Gee, they're not that heavy are they?

Steve

scumdog

11th October 2009, 08:48

Yep, that sort of thing would never happen to a sprotsbike rider eh:rolleyes:

2wheeled Gasman

11th October 2009, 09:10

I want to know how someone in a group ride can be missed for this long.
I'm disgusted that these fellow bikers didn't realise that a rider in their group was even missing!
This gives even more clout to the group ride KB group ride thread.
I have been involved in a group ride in Hawkes Bay a few years back that involved someone down, had to call air ambulance to the accident.I couldn't believe that after the ambulance had collected our fellow rider, some 2 hrs after, a mate and myself arrived at our destination to find the other riders in our group drinking and laughing not having a clue as to what went on further down the line of riders.There was no check points or head counts, just totally oblivious to the incident.

Rider's miracle survival
4:00AM Sunday Oct 11, 2009
By Kieran Nash
A motorcyclist has survived being trapped for 14 hours underneath his heavy Harley Davidson with his face in a puddle.

Police say the Greymouth man craned his neck to get the corner of his mouth out of the puddle to breathe.

The man's riding companions last saw him about 10km before Haast, at the bottom of the South Island's West Coast, and they got to Westport, 450km to the north, before they noticed he was missing.

After a rescue effort by police and Search and Rescue, he was found by friends near Haast at about 1am yesterday.

West Coast Search and Rescue co-ordinator Sean Judd said the rescue was a "massive" effort.

scumdog

11th October 2009, 09:14

They probably DID notice he was missing - but I've often run into the case where somebody has buggered off home because he was crook/said he would only be going to XX and then heading home, hell there's so many scenarios...I doubt a group of riders got to their destination and totally missed realising a mate was not there when he should have been.

JacksColdSweat

11th October 2009, 09:15

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602555

wowser! Pinned 14 hours under his hog face down in a puddle...

I would be sh*tt*ng my pants.

He could only just breathe by the sounds of it...

[EDIT: Apologies mods - thought i'd looked everywhere for this before posting - thanks for the move]

p.dath

11th October 2009, 09:17

What a horrible experience. I feel for the Harley rider.

I think most rides have some kind of loose rule where riders switch around, or wait at major points. Usually its discussed at the beginning of the ride.

But some people like riding alone. And sometimes groups form of these people as well (so they can ride with quite some distance between each other). Sometimes the "group" make not always take the exact same route as well.

I'm sure the guys "mates" are feeling pretty bad at the moment.

MSTRS

11th October 2009, 09:24

NZsarge

11th October 2009, 09:31

I think most rides have some kind of loose rule where riders switch around, or wait at major points. Usually its discussed at the beginning of the ride.

Nope. Why do you think the (KB) Ride Guidelines were developed?

I have to say I think the rides originating out of the KB group in the Manawatu are pretty good in this respect.

NinjaNanna

11th October 2009, 09:55

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10602555

Unbelievable that this can happen on a group ride

Your kidding right?????? The group rides I've been on I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often.

Unless you employ a buddy system, its all to easy to assume a rider is ahead or behind you.

In my view he's probably lucky he was noticed missing at all.

MSTRS

11th October 2009, 10:14

Unless you employ a buddy system, its all to easy to assume a rider is ahead or behind you.

Headlights in mirrors, anyone?

Laxi

11th October 2009, 10:25

I'm sure the guys "mates" are feeling pretty bad at the moment.

good!!! 450km is a long way to leave a "mate" lying in a puddle dont you think?

scumdog

11th October 2009, 10:31

good!!! 450km is a long way to leave a "mate" lying in a puddle dont you think?

Yeah, the bastards knew he was lying in a puddle and effed off for another 450km before doing anything about it, bastards!

Ixion

11th October 2009, 10:55

Easy enough to lose track on someone on the raod, it's pretty windy.

That's why y' have a TEC.

But maybe he WAS the TEC. Always wondered about that, who looks out for TEC.

ukusa

11th October 2009, 11:36

Easy enough to lose track on someone on the raod, it's pretty windy.

That's why y' have a TEC.

But maybe he WAS the TEC. Always wondered about that, who looks out for TEC.

the TEC can also end up a long way behind the front runners, keeping an eye on the slower riders. Unfortunately you can't have a TEC for the TEC.

jimichelle

11th October 2009, 11:39

most likely the chch hog chapter bunch the rider could have been in the middle of the groupand they all laughed as they passed and talked and joked about the postion he was in at the local pub

Cloggy

11th October 2009, 11:44

st00ji

11th October 2009, 12:13

should have drank the puddle, would have made breathing easier

Ixion

11th October 2009, 12:15

When I go out four wheel driving, we follow a rule of always keeping the vehicle behind you in sight. If you can't see him anymore, stop and back up if necessary.
The same rule can be applied to riding motorcycles in groups.
Keep the rider behind you in sight in your mirrors. No need for anyone to get left behind.
Bit hard on some parts of that road. I'm very surprised that they didn't regroup between Haast and Westport , though.

Apart from fuel (do Harleys' really have 450km fuel tanks), there's a lot of pubs along that road. 'twould seem a waste to apss them all by.

rosie631

11th October 2009, 13:24

Bit hard on some parts of that road. I'm very surprised that they didn't regroup between Haast and Westport , though.

Apart from fuel (do Harleys' really have 450km fuel tanks), there's a lot of pubs along that road. 'twould seem a waste to apss them all by.

No, they don't. Mine does around 320km so they must have had a fuel stop at some point.

gatch

11th October 2009, 13:51

What a bunch of fuckin retards !

I would have thought a "group" ride would require staying as a group, a quick peek in the mirror everynow in then does not require a huge amount of effort.

Not noticing for 450km ! That is a special kind of retard.

Mully

11th October 2009, 14:09

Fine, I'll say it then:

The man's riding companions last saw him about 10km before Haast, at the bottom of the South Island's West Coast, and they got to Westport, 450km to the north, before they noticed he was missing

Several Harleys made it 450kms without breaking down?

Maybe they were on the back of a tow truck....

That should do it.

Spank, can we have a "stirring" smiley please? Little bloke with a spoon or summat should work.

scumdog

11th October 2009, 15:09

Fine, I'll say it then:

Several Harleys made it 450kms without breaking down?

Maybe they were on the back of a tow truck....

That should do it.

Spank, can we have a "stirring" smiley please? Little bloke with a spoon or summat should work.

I know!

WTF, 450km and no break-down, a bin - do they think they're sprotsbike rider or something??<_<

sAsLEX

11th October 2009, 15:58

Yep, that sort of thing would never happen to a sprotsbike rider eh:rolleyes:

I can pick up my bike.

JimO

11th October 2009, 16:29

I can pick up my bike.

doubt you could if it was lying on top of you, mind you the guy with the ute that was picking up the bits that drop off should have seen him

Taz

11th October 2009, 17:01

Years ago we lost a guy on a group ride. Went back and searched but couldn't find him. He was only found after dark when a motorist luckily happened to spot a red light well down from the road in a gully. If you spear off the road into the wilderness you aren't always that easy to find. Especially if you're dead.

ajturbo

11th October 2009, 17:10

Headlights in mirrors, anyone?
that is what i use.... even when i get WAY in front... i then tend to slow down till they catch up... if no light for a few min. i stop..... wait for a couple.. still no light, i go looking... every time, so far, they appear AS i turn around...doh

Brian d marge

11th October 2009, 19:49

should have drank the puddle, would have made breathing easier
Thats what i reckon to , like he had 14 hours to do it ....

Shit I can drink the pub dry in that time * and NZ beer is worse than a puddle *

Stephen

MadDuck

11th October 2009, 19:58

Nope. Why do you think the (KB) Ride Guidelines were developed?

It could be the big bad Harley riders hadnt read them.....:msn-wink:

Molly

11th October 2009, 20:36

Regardless of the bike, you all go out together, you all come back together.

It's shit that this could happen and the bloke pinned under his bike must've been fearing the worst. When he recovers I dare say he'll have words for his 'mates'.

puddytat

11th October 2009, 20:59

that is what i use.... even when i get WAY in front... i then tend to slow down till they catch up... if no light for a few min. i stop..... wait for a couple.. still no light, i go looking... every time, so far, they appear AS i turn around...doh

They were probably to busy looking at themselves in thier mirrors rather than looking out for each other......

Or....they were totally wasted:doobey::doobey::doobey: & high on speed:blip:

Tink

11th October 2009, 21:16

They were probably to busy looking at themselves in thier mirrors rather than looking out for each other......

Or....they were totally wasted:doobey::doobey::doobey: & high on speed:blip:

I think you require popcorn for that comment!!!! erm

Little Smurf

11th October 2009, 22:07

That's crazy shit that they didn't realse he wasn't there!!!!!
That poor chap, I would be saying abit more than a few words, pin them down under their bikes for 14 hours then talk about it!

I must say that every group ride I'm on it's always look out for the one behind you!

That's just crazy!!!! Remind me to never travell behind Harley Riders in the S.I ..... f a r k that :yes:

MadDuck

11th October 2009, 22:13

Regardless of the bike, you all go out together, you all come back together.

Remind me to never travell behind Harley Riders in the S.I ..... f a r k that :yes:

Them damn Harley Riders dont ride with them. OK got it.

Ghost_Bullet

11th October 2009, 22:16

I am sitting here telling the story to me wife, pissing myself laughing... of course feeling for puddle face guy, It had to be some joke I thought... what the???

Shit happens I know... but this is shocking.

NinjaNanna

12th October 2009, 08:49

everybody is operating on the assumption that this guy was "well known" to the group. For all we know he may have been new to the ride and therefore no-one knew him well enough to know he was missing.

I couldn't count the number of rides I've been on where I didn't know anybody - and I'm pretty sure unless I ran off the road in full view of another rider the odds are I wouldn't have been missed.

MSTRS

12th October 2009, 08:55

that is what i use.... even when i get WAY in front... i then tend to slow down till they catch up... if no light for a few min. i stop..... wait for a couple.. still no light, i go looking... every time, so far, they appear AS i turn around...dohAint that always the way?

It could be the big bad Harley riders hadnt read them.....:msn-wink:

I wouldn't assume that they can even read in the first place...

_Shrek_

12th October 2009, 09:37

is'nt there a thread about "how much experience to you have" or would this not come into it keeping an eye out for a fellow rider weather you know him well or not, like GB said shit happens but it still shouldn't take 450 k's to find out

kwakalover

12th October 2009, 10:40

i was on a group ride once where the guy in front of me went down badly, :Oops: the rest of the group were back with us in about 5 mins after noticing that there was no one behind them a few miles up the road,

i know it can't always be like this but still 450K's????

vifferman

12th October 2009, 11:41

Omigod! You've all missed the point of this article.
It's not about how his mates all pissed off and left him - it's about how his evil Harley tried to kill him - first by crashing off the road, then when that failed it tried to crush him, then finally resorted to trying to drown him in a puddle!

The topic header should've read: "Greymouth man survives homicidal Harley"

Tink

12th October 2009, 20:53

No, they don't. Mine does around 320km so they must have had a fuel stop at some point.

wish mine did.. er (lol wish I had a harley even better)

That's crazy shit that they didn't realise he wasn't there!!!!!
That poor chap, I would be saying a bit more than a few words, pin them down under their bikes for 14 hours then talk about it!

Now that is a real comment.. .WHO WOULD WANT TO BE IN HIS SITUATION ... and don't give me that crap that you wouldn't.. it could be a truck for any of us... I hear they suck you in!!!

Them damn Harley Riders dont ride with them. OK got it.

lol yr funny hehe

Crasherfromwayback

12th October 2009, 21:02

He should've worn a full face helmet. I'm guessing he had an open face jobbie. A full face helmet would've given him room to not only breath...but curse and swear his mates for leaving him behind...as the chin bar would've sat on the bottom of the puddle and kept his mouth approx 5mm above the waters surface.

Full face skid lids rule.

Laxi

12th October 2009, 21:05

The topic header should've read: "Greymouth man survives genicidal Harley"

fixed :niceone:

Laxi

12th October 2009, 21:34

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/picture.php?albumid=2249&pictureid=32613

Forest

13th October 2009, 00:15

Yikes. What a story.

Something that's worth thinking about - if you go off the road while riding solo, will anybody come looking for you?

swbarnett

13th October 2009, 16:17

scumdog

13th October 2009, 17:05

Crasherfromwayback

14th October 2009, 07:22

Surely that depends on the depth of the puddle?

And MY guess is that I'll win Lotto this week too....:crazy:

KN is waay too full of 'guessers'.:yes:

It's called sarcasm.

swbarnett

14th October 2009, 11:16

It's called sarcasm.
Must fix detector.

Zuki lover

14th October 2009, 11:43

We normally have head counts when riding - and regular stop off points. Occassionally there have been riders dissappearing - but someone usually knows that they decided to turn off and head for home or the likes.

But trapped under a harley for 14 hours - man that sucks!!!!!!!!:mad::mad:

steve74

15th October 2009, 08:30

2 sides to every story. I head from a friend that visited him in hospital that he was on his own riding from greymouth to haast and met up and tagged on the back of a group heading north. Some may not have even known who he was or that he was even there? One thing about traveling in south westland/ haast. you can run 2 metres off the road and never be seen again. planes have crashed down there and are never seen again. At least half a dozen times in the last few years people have been trapped in cars 5 to 10m from the road and it has taken days/weeks to find them.

The poor bloke was still in hospital with other injurys on monday.

rosie631

15th October 2009, 18:59

Something that's worth thinking about - if you go off the road while riding solo, will anybody come looking for you?

That does make you think eh? I ride on my own quite a lot. Makes me wonder if I should make sure someone knows where I'm planning on going and what time I expect to be back. Kind of takes the freedom away tho.

dipshit

17th October 2009, 17:41

That does make you think eh? I ride on my own quite a lot. Makes me wonder if I should make sure someone knows where I'm planning on going and what time I expect to be back. Kind of takes the freedom away tho.

It looks like emergency locator beacons are getting small enough to slip into a jacket pocket now. www.406beaconhire.com Would probably be worth a close look.

scumdog

6th December 2009, 10:28

good!!! 450km is a long way to leave a "mate" lying in a puddle dont you think?

Straight from the 'horses mouth', he was NOT 'left behind by his mates".

He had told them he was splitting with the groupt to head to work.

So until his mrs realised he hadn't come home from work nobody knew he was missing.

Had hit rain-slicked tar and arsed off the road with no sign of a crash.

Was pinned under the bike with a msahsed elbow, broken ribs and a hole in his back where the front axle had dug in, also serious internal injuries.

Persistent, diligent searching by his mates eventually found him (the knew where he must crashed to withing a km or so).

He bears them no grudge as they did nothing wrong and was really grateful for their search efforts.

But hey, this IS KB where ranting-before-facts-are-known is the norm.:bash:

duckonin

7th December 2009, 09:36

the TEC can also end up a long way behind the front runners, keeping an eye on the slower riders. Unfortunately you can't have a TEC for the TEC.

TEC looks after himself, he is the one that reguards speed as " been there done that" and dicks along "hopefully" safely!!!

But he may still miss the one that went over the bank..:yes:

Others also have to be responsible for themselves..