Heavily concussed biker airlifted to Palmerston North hospital

[Racey Rider]

Not if you're feeling very tired, or stressed. Thats supposedly a bad time to be riding.

Yer but he can just stick "The Thing" on auto pilot. She'll be right.

[LB]

I've sorted out the petition forms, I'll post a separate thread about it.

[Slim]

You've just experienced one of the things I fear when out riding with The Man. I'd hope that my First Aid training would kick in automatically, but I don't envy you the discovery of your beloved in such shocking circumstances.

Get well soon, Mrs H. And look after you both, Hitcher.

[vifferman]

It is overwhelming and incredibly humbling at the same time to be on the receiving end of such an outpouring of love and concern. We really appreciate it. A finer group of people we couldn't want to know.

It's only because you're such a Top Bloke (and Top Blokess, in Jane's case).
If it were anyone else, especially someone who wasn't Top, it'd be a different story.
Good to hear the Top Blokess is getting better. Just keep an eye on her still for mood swings, sleepiness and all that. Brain bruising is not good.

[Paul in NZ]

Words can't express what it's like to have my girl back. The bard in me is a bit tired at the moment...

Words just did old son. A few heartfelt words of truth are worth an entire dictionary of flowery prose.

Rest up and let us know what we can do...

Paul N

[RiderInBlack]

Just going through my sub'ed threads and came across this one, which lead me to wondering:

• How Mrs H is now?
• Has she got back into riding?
• How has it changed riding for Mrs and Mr H?
• Has there been any luck with the Insurance?
• Has the bike been replaced/fixed?

Hope you both are well.

Doug (The Rider In Black)

[Hitcher]

Just going through my sub'ed threads and came across this one, which lead me to wondering:

• How Mrs H is now?
• Has she got back into riding?
• How has it changed riding for Mrs and Mr H?
• Has there been any luck with the Insurance?
• Has the bike been replaced/fixed?

Hope you both are well.

Doug (The Rider In Black)

Doug

Thanks for your interest.

Mrs H is pretty much back to normal, although she still has a few aches.
For the past couple of weeks she has been pillioning but would prefer to be riding her own bike.
The assessor advised on Friday that the Marauder will be written off. We just now have to await the payout from Swann.
Once the payout is received, it looks like a new K4 Marauder is the preferred solution.

We plan to be up your way in March -- Coromandel-Northland excursion planned on the conclusion of the 5 March Neil Diamond concert in Wellington. Mrs H is a big fan of ND. Having held fond thoughts for the Jewish Elvis longer than she has for me, it is best that Mrs H has an opportunity to hear him live one more time...

[ajturbo]

Just going through my sub'ed threads and came across this one, which lead me to wondering:

• How Mrs H is now?
• Has she got back into riding?
• How has it changed riding for Mrs and Mr H?
• Has there been any luck with the Insurance?
• Has the bike been replaced/fixed?

Hope you both are well.

Doug (The Rider In Black)

was thinking the same.. just the other day...
thanks for putting figure to key board!!
hope we get a good reply.......



good to hear !!!

[Holy Roller]

How did I ever miss this thread

I'm glad that Mrs H is doing so well and getting back on a bike again, a true biker. I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone.

Not long now before you do your trip and take in the ND concert take care out there.

[RiderInBlack]

We plan to be up your way in March -- Coromandel-Northland excursion planned on the conclusion of the 5 March Neil Diamond concert in Wellington. Mrs H is a big fan of ND. Having held fond thoughts for the Jewish Elvis longer than she has for me, it is best that Mrs H has an opportunity to hear him live one more time...

If you are up here before the 14th of March, let me know (will be try to get all the horse done before going on holiday, but with a bit of warning could show you some of the good back raods up here). There's always a bed available here for passing KB'ers. Going South on the 14/03/05 (see http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=7055 ) so will not be around.
Hope the insurance has paid up by then and Mrs H is getting to break her new Marauder in by then.

All the best,

Doug

[TonyB]

Bikers and non-bikers alike have been asking "Will she ride again?" Jane says she hopes so, because she doesn't want to be defeated by this...

I'm adding this a bit late, but I does go with the general flow of the thread (accidents/ rescue helicopters) so I hope those that know Mrs H don't mind me commenting. It will start of as a bit of a waffle, but hopefully you'll see the point.
Around 2 weeks ago I got home from work to see a white helicopter hovering around the rock faces above my house. It turned out to be the Westpac rescue helicopter's temporary replacement- the normal one was being repaired after beheading a giveway sign at a call out. I raced inside and grabbed the binoculars and I could make out a couple of ambo officers, a couple of civilians and a medic from the chopper. The chopper hovered rock steady for maybe five minutes in an incredible display of flying, then it must have become obvious that it would take a while so they landed it on top of the hill. After maybe 15mins it came back into position, they lowered down a gurney(?) to lift the patient away. The chopper again hovered absolutely still while they attached they patient and then they slowly and carefully lifted him up and put him through the doors before slowly moving away. Again- an incredible display of flying, the north easter was blowing and there would have been a faily strong downdraft there, but the chopper was absolutely steady. There was nothing in the paper about it the next day, so we assumed it must have been an exercise, but about a week later a short story in the Press said that the patient had died of severe head injuries. He was a highly experienced mountaineer, who had first climbed Mount Cook (Aoraki) at 17 years of age. He had given up mountaineering at the request of his wife because she was worried about the risks...

So whats my point? Well the rescue helicopter service is an incredibly valuable resource, and one that should be available anywhere in NZ, not just in the main centres. It would have been extremely difficult to get the patient down from that rock face without the rescue helicopter.
And my other point? This is just be my interpretation of the above events, but it affirmed my belief that there is little point of giving away riding road bikes just because it is 'dangerous'. It seems that the old cliche 'when your number is up, it's up' does sometimes apply, so there is little point in giving up the things you love just to avoid a perceived 'un-necessary risk'.
Mrs H, you will no doubt be nervous if/when you start riding again. Don't worry, I think everybody is. Even top racers loose their confidence every now and then.

[Paul in NZ]

I'm adding this a bit late, but I does go with the general flow of the thread (accidents/ rescue helicopters) so I hope those that know Mrs H don't mind me commenting. It will start of as a bit of a waffle, but hopefully you'll see the point.
Around 2 weeks ago I got home from work to see a white helicopter hovering around the rock faces above my house. It turned out to be the Westpac rescue helicopter's temporary replacement- the normal one was being repaired after beheading a giveway sign at a call out. I raced inside and grabbed the binoculars and I could make out a couple of ambo officers, a couple of civilians and a medic from the chopper. The chopper hovered rock steady for maybe five minutes in an incredible display of flying, then it must have become obvious that it would take a while so they landed it on top of the hill. After maybe 15mins it came back into position, they lowered down a gurney(?) to lift the patient away. The chopper again hovered absolutely still while they attached they patient and then they slowly and carefully lifted him up and put him through the doors before slowly moving away. Again- an incredible display of flying, the north easter was blowing and there would have been a faily strong downdraft there, but the chopper was absolutely steady. There was nothing in the paper about it the next day, so we assumed it must have been an exercise, but about a week later a short story in the Press said that the patient had died of severe head injuries. He was a highly experienced mountaineer, who had first climbed Mount Cook (Aoraki) at 17 years of age. He had given up mountaineering at the request of his wife because she was worried about the risks...

So whats my point? Well the rescue helicopter service is an incredibly valuable resource, and one that should be available anywhere in NZ, not just in the main centres. It would have been extremely difficult to get the patient down from that rock face without the rescue helicopter.
And my other point? This is just be my interpretation of the above events, but it affirmed my belief that there is little point of giving away riding road bikes just because it is 'dangerous'. It seems that the old cliche 'when your number is up, it's up' does sometimes apply, so there is little point in giving up the things you love just to avoid a perceived 'un-necessary risk'.
Mrs H, you will no doubt be nervous if/when you start riding again. Don't worry, I think everybody is. Even top racers loose their confidence every now and then.

The patient was a chap I went to High School with and whom I did some tramping etc when we were young. At the time of the accident he was climbing with my younger brother (possibly his best friend in recent times) and while I totally agree with what you are saying, there is a lot more 'history' behind this story of giving up the hard out mountaineering..

It was an utter freak accident. The fall was nothing unusual really and should have been no more than a broken leg or arm even with the failed top anchor but sometimes bad shit happens to good people. Despite the best gear and planning. Something that motorcyclists can easily understand.

So yes! Thank god for the rescue heliocoptors and staff. With them and the fact that he was climbing with 2 experienced medical people, he at least had a chance at life.

Paul N

[Midnight 82]

:spudwhat: All I can add is damn not another one best wishes

[TonyB]

It was an utter freak accident. The fall was nothing unusual really and should have been no more than a broken leg or arm even with the failed top anchor but sometimes bad shit happens to good people. Despite the best gear and planning. Something that motorcyclists can easily understand.

So yes! Thank god for the rescue heliocoptors and staff. With them and the fact that he was climbing with 2 experienced medical people, he at least had a chance at life.

Paul N

I was very surprised to hear that he had died, the rock face seemed pretty small from my house. Definitely a freak accident. My appologies for using your freinds untimely death to illustrate my point.

[Paul in NZ]

I was very surprised to hear that he had died, the rock face seemed pretty small from my house. Definitely a freak accident. My appologies for using your freinds untimely death to illustrate my point.

No sweat mate. Like I said, bad shit happens to good people.