Fark! Christchurch river accident

[Paul in NZ]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9283879/Crash-victim-clings-to-tree-in-river

Blimmin heck

[nudemetalz]

I love the editting...

"Charged will be considered by police and are likely..."


Back to the story, that is one lucky biker !!!

[jellywrestler]

what sort of bike BTW?

[p.dath]

Double "Blimmin heck".

[leopardskin]

i see in pic #5 the cops are checking to make sure its rego'd and warranted so that's good

[swarfie]

what sort of bike BTW?

Charlie Harrison...Harley Ferguson...take your pick :nya:

[SMOKEU]

The river is usually only about a metre deep at that point as well. Very lucky dude indeed.

[buggerit]

The story says the bike ran up the arse of the truck when it braked but the pictures look like the bike was heading in the opp direction and
hit the truck when it crossed into his lane. What say you?

[HenryDorsetCase]

the story says the truck was northbound and the rider was southbound.

[Murray]

The story says the bike ran up the arse of the truck when it braked but the pictures look like the bike was heading in the opp direction and
hit the truck when it crossed into his lane. What say you?

Where does it say the bike ran up the arse of the truck???? Bloody truck drivers fault

Police said the truck had been travelling north over the bridge at the time of the accident.
The driver had been looking at the swollen water levels and had not noticed cars backed up in front of him, Senior Sergeant Malcolm Johnston said.
"The truck's gone sideways, careered into the guardrail and ended up hanging over the guardrail."

The motorcyclist had been travelling south, had "slammed on the brakes and has clipped the truck".

[Parlane]

The story says the bike ran up the arse of the truck when it braked but the pictures look like the bike was heading in the opp direction and
hit the truck when it crossed into his lane. What say you?

Now says the motorbike was travelling the opposite direction.

Where is Katman to tell us the motorbike should have predicted this event when he noticed the truck driver wasn't looking at traffic ahead of himself.

[unstuck]

Its gods fault for inventing rivers that man had to build narrow bridges to cross in the first place, I say blame that fucker.:Punk:

[HenryDorsetCase]

we need a headcount. Willytheekid comes in from that way.

[buggerit]

the story says the truck was northbound and the rider was southbound.

:facepalm:looks like I am going to have to cut back on the gin in my cornflakes, as u were!:shutup:

[SMOKEU]

I'm not surprised that this happened since those bridges are uncomfortably narrow for the speed limit.

[rastuscat]

Wheelie doesn't ride a Harley. AFAIK.

[jellywrestler]

Charlie Harrison...Harley Ferguson...take your pick :nya:

i said bike not truck!

[awa355]

A pity he wasn't wearing a leather jacket and textile trousers. Would've settled the argument of which are more waterproof. :rolleyes:

Regardless, it's good to read that the rider is okay and not another fatality. At least the truck driver fronted up and admitted he wasn't looking. Also he made a decent effort to rescue the rider.

[Tazz]

Oh man was literally just reading about a dude who died on the Ashley bridge a day before. Very lucky guy.

[Katman]

Where is Katman to tell us the motorbike should have predicted this event.......

It would have to be one very clever motorbike.

[Crasherfromwayback]

what sort of bike BTW?

XL883N no less.

[Paul in NZ]

Certainly feel for the guy - not a great start to the day!

[sinfull]

Good on him for just coming out of it feeling a bit hyped

[willytheekid]

we need a headcount. Willytheekid comes in from that way.
Thanks for the thought mate:2thumbsup...I'm still here:D (two days off:headbang:...and Ive got a cold lol :facepalm:)
I too always think of the KBers I know on here when I see a motorcycle inccident on the news...and I always hope its not one of the KB crew:crazy:


Wheelie doesn't ride a Harley. AFAIK.
And thank you sir;)...tis a bit different to my wee red honda*
Top friggin effort in regards to survival skills:first:...damn lucky we didn't lose a Canty rider today, please pass on all our regards to the rescue service teams Ras...Job well done:yes:


*...the one that doesn't get wheeled ever-since I got a friendly warning :o...:D

[rastuscat]

Thanks for the thought mate:2thumbsup...I'm still here:D (two days off:headbang:...and Ive got a cold lol :facepalm:)
I too always think of the KBers I know on here when I see a motorcycle inccident on the news...and I always hope its not one of the KB crew:crazy:


And thank you sir;)...tis a bit different to my wee red honda*
Top friggin effort in regards to survival skills:first:...damn lucky we didn't lose a Canty rider today, please pass on all our regards to the rescue service teams Ras...Job well done:yes:


*...the one that doesn't get wheeled ever-since I got a friendly warning :o...:D

I'll be pushing for compulsory life jackets for motorcyclists.............

[rastuscat]

Oh man was literally just reading about a dude who died on the Ashley bridge a day before. Very lucky guy.

That guy was the author of his own demise, sadly. Today's guy was a victim of someone else's folly.

[Oakie]

XL883N no less.

A black one!

[Grumph]

The old Waimak bridge is always a worry - narrow and bumpy with drivers looking everywhere but the roadway...
Don't know if the motorway bridge is much better - the barriers are VERY low.

Lucky - well yes, nearly drowned as it's in flood but a fall onto gravel as is usually probable could well have given him worse injuries...

[Kickaha]

not a great start to the day!

What about the rest of us, that prick made me an hour and a half late for work

[Berries]

I'm not surprised that this happened since those bridges are uncomfortably narrow for the speed limit.
Don't give them ideas.

[jellywrestler]

XL883N no less.

yeah that
s before pics had come out

[R650R]

Some more pics up on the article now. Hell that's quite a drop even onto water, must have had damn good reactions and skill to grab that tree or blessed with some mighty good luck.

[Paul in NZ]

Some more pics up on the article now. Hell that's quite a drop even onto water, must have had damn good reactions and skill to grab that tree or blessed with some mighty good luck.

Yeah I was thinking about that. Given the extremely BAD luck of having a truck suddenly leap sideways into your path and fortunately punch a hole in the guardrail I was thinking he was due a little good luck...

[willytheekid]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9290573/Waimakariri-river-crash-survivor-talks

Shane explaines his side of it...:crazy:

...damn scary stuff

[haydes55]

I would of just let go of the tree and swam to the bank further down the river.

[rastuscat]

I would of just let go of the tree and swam to the bank further down the river.

Yesterday the river was in flood. If you'd have seen it, you'd not be saying that.

If he'd let go, he'd be living in the Chathams now.

[cheshirecat]

Yesterday the river was in flood. If you'd have seen it, you'd not be saying that.

If he'd let go, he'd be living in the Chathams now.
and be docked $5 tourist levy

[unstuck]

Shane explaines his side of it...:crazy:

...damn scary stuff

And wearing a Submerge top, lucky he was not wearing that yesterday.:niceone:

[haydes55]

Yesterday the river was in flood. If you'd have seen it, you'd not be saying that.

If he'd let go, he'd be living in the Chathams now.



I saw the river going through Taumarunui yesterday about 1.5x its size. Id still rather try my luck swimming sideways for a km rather than freeze for 40 minutes.

When I was about 8-10 I lived on a farm which backed onto a river popular with white water rafters. It was about 20m wide and fast flowing (not storm fast but I was young). To swim across the river (to get to the cliff to jump), we would walk about 100m up the river bank then point straight across and swim hard for 5 minutes. By the time I reach the bank I'm at the cliff.

No river is going to hold you in the middle of it.

[Road kill]

With the flood there must of been shit loads of ozone in the air an our man on his Sportys humming down the road enjoying the buzz when the on coming truck driver suddenly realises the traffic in front of him has slowed while he's been looking at the river instead of driving his fucking truck.

He hits the picks an the older shitter he's now driving again locks it all up, crosses the line an punches a hole in the rail.

Mr Sportster also locks it up because he ain't doin' nothing else right now,hit's the left steerer that has just become the immediate scenery an bounces through the new hole in the bridge.

Lands on what used to be really hard stuff but is now several meters of really wet stuff,going fuckin' hard.

So he grabs a handy willow just to catch his breath while he waits for a free ride in a helicopter before calmly walking away in front of the local TV crew.

Fuckyeah,Somebody buy that man a beer. :2thumbsup

[MD]

If anyone has his contact details let me know. I want to send him $12 to buy ME a Lotto ticket.

I lost a perfectly good XL175 crossing that river in 76. Bike and I got washed into a deep hole. It went straight down and I swam for the bank. Not easy in helmet and bike boots, so I know how that dude must have felt. My bike was found six months later rooted by gravel. Stones driven into the engine casings. At least it proved my story was kosher.

[Woodman]

What a rush.............Some guys get all the fun.

[scumdog]

I saw the river going through Taumarunui yesterday about 1.5x its size. Id still rather try my luck swimming sideways for a km rather than freeze for 40 minutes.

When I was about 8-10 I lived on a farm which backed onto a river popular with white water rafters. It was about 20m wide and fast flowing (not storm fast but I was young). To swim across the river (to get to the cliff to jump), we would walk about 100m up the river bank then point straight across and swim hard for 5 minutes. By the time I reach the bank I'm at the cliff.

No river is going to hold you in the middle of it.

Possibly this dude had to contend with debris and murky fast flowing water wiht large waves and surges - which may well have affected his view of his downstream options..possibly...

[Kickaha]

Possibly this dude had to contend with debris and murky fast flowing water wiht large waves and surges - which may well have affected his view of his downstream options..possibly...

Dont make excuses, how hard can it possibly be to swim wearing motorcycle gear in a flooded river?

[Grumph]

I saw the river going through Taumarunui yesterday about 1.5x its size. Id still rather try my luck swimming sideways for a km rather than freeze for 40 minutes.

When I was about 8-10 I lived on a farm which backed onto a river popular with white water rafters. It was about 20m wide and fast flowing (not storm fast but I was young). To swim across the river (to get to the cliff to jump), we would walk about 100m up the river bank then point straight across and swim hard for 5 minutes. By the time I reach the bank I'm at the cliff.

No river is going to hold you in the middle of it.

this one will - in flood at the bridge, the waimak is the best part of 1/3 of a mile wide and flowing bloody fast. i seriously doubt if an olympic swimmer could get to the bank. i've sailed from the yacht club further down and i've seen sailing dinghys carried over the bar cos they couldn't make way against the current...and the power boat sent out to recover them have trouble too.

if he hadn't caught the tree, the crays on the chatham rise would have been feeding on him....

[russd7]

Possibly this dude had to contend with debris and murky fast flowing water wiht large waves and surges - which may well have affected his view of his downstream options..possibly...

add to that the fact that the waimak is slightly more than 20m wide, i would think he possibly took the right course of action

[Tazz]

Yesterday the river was in flood. If you'd have seen it, you'd not be saying that.

If he'd let go, he'd be living in the Chathams now.

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

Either that or struck by a tree, or dragged under in an eddy, or caught on tree roots and drowned trying to get to the bank, or maybe he'd would have made it in all his leathers and boots to the bank, ripped open his jacket to let his chest hairs blow in the wind and had a little ray of sunshine beam down on him as an eagle flew overhead and gave a wink.

Everyone is a hero looking these situations lol. Just good the dude survived.

Fanged back up home today and the rivers were still in full swing (or near on). Impressive volume of water.

And yeah from the report the Ashley dude messed up =(

[unstuck]

I saw the river going through Taumarunui yesterday about 1.5x its size. Id still rather try my luck swimming sideways for a km rather than freeze for 40 minutes.

When I was about 8-10 I lived on a farm which backed onto a river popular with white water rafters. It was about 20m wide and fast flowing (not storm fast but I was young). To swim across the river (to get to the cliff to jump), we would walk about 100m up the river bank then point straight across and swim hard for 5 minutes. By the time I reach the bank I'm at the cliff.

No river is going to hold you in the middle of it.

How many south island rivers you tried swimming in? A lot of the rivers down here are completely different to the rivers in the north island and do some crazy shit when in flood due to the shifting gravel. Try it sometime, its a hoot. Especially if your inside a 4x4 thats floating along, slowly filling with water.:2thumbsup

[Str8 Jacket]

I'm not sure why we're arguing if he took the right actions or not, he's alive so I am guessing that he did..... :cool:

[mikeey01]

Lucky, very lucky man!

On a different note...
Another Harley that hates getting wet so it spat rider off?

[Swoop]

Today's guy was a victim of someone else's folly.
The Harley Davidson engineer who designed the brakes?

(surprised it hadn't already been mentioned...):rofl:

[MD]

Lucky, very lucky man!

On a different note...
Another Harley that hates getting wet so it spat rider off?

Those bikes are not water cooled. The bike followed it's design brief.

[Paul in NZ]

The Harley Davidson engineer who designed the brakes?

(surprised it hadn't already been mentioned...):rofl:

Looks like the brakes and the rider did a good job stopping in time to avoid a random truck leaping in front of them. ie not really much frontal impact to the bike. He just fell through the guard rail where the truck had busted it.

IMHO he did well to stop and made the right decision to hold onto the tree. He was wearing bike leathers, helmet, gloves and back pack. By the time he shrugged out of the back pack and glove and ditched the pack he would have already been running out of energy and may not have made it. The river banks there are all gravel and often crumbly - not easy to clamber out.

[russd7]

i guess the adage that motorcycle boots are not made for walking could be true for swimming as well:cool:

[Asher]

I traveled over the SH1 bridge not too long after the accident and never realised it was a rider that ended up in the drink. I was going to take a photo of the river because i had never seen it that big before.
The guy did well hang onto a tree.
For the northern folk who dont know how big the river gets:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3670/10324081766_07cd000813_c.jpg

http://www.ecan.govt.nz/ChartAxd.axd?i=dcp_dcbe9b4928.png&_guid_=ac7b3d27-fa53-404c-8f4f-9d16ea216b7c

Thats the same volume as an olympic swimming each second...

[russd7]

I traveled over the SH1 bridge not too long after the accident and never realised it was a rider that ended up in the drink. I was going to take a photo of the river because i had never seen it that big before.
The guy did well hang onto a tree.
For the northern folk who dont know how big the river gets:


Thats the same volume as an olympic swimming each second...

pfft, still only a baby river, whats awesome is when ya see the Rakaia or the Waitaki lapping the bottom of their respective bridges.

[Road kill]

pfft, still only a baby river, whats awesome is when ya see the Rakaia or the Waitaki lapping the bottom of their respective bridges.

That's nothin' mate,,some of these fuckers could swim it with a hand tied behind their backs an not get wet.

You just ask em'.:laugh:

[Dave-]

pfft, still only a baby river, whats awesome is when ya see the Rakaia or the Waitaki lapping the bottom of their respective bridges.

Pfft, that's fuckin' nothing mate, you should see the pacific ocean!