Bike Fatality

There was a biker down on the roundabout at the top of the entrance to Hayling Island . The bike was on its side and not too badly damaged, I could not see the make but it was a sports bike fully faired. At this point I assumed it was a weekend power ranger over cooking the curve but it turned out to be a fellow Islander 79 year old ex army despach rider . As it has since come to light the poor chap had a heart attack then broke his neck on falling off so sadly its a Gog down . All this happend on sunday by the way.

Bummer.. at least it was quick I guess.. 79 and riding good for him...

He went out doing what he loved. RIP and condolences to his family and friends.

My first thought was the same as above, he died doing what he loved best (probably). RIP

I cant help but think his first choice would have been to be still alive though.
As Bob said, at least if was quick, but I suppose 'others' will see it as 'another bloody mad biker' with out looking into the facts.

Very sad to hear of this, the older we get, the more we need to consider whats going on when riding. If we feel unwell, we should stop, if the bike feels strange we should stop and look it over.
The probablility is he would have survived, if he was not on the bike, it goes down as a biker stat.
RIP and condolences to his family and friends.

I knew a guy who had a heart attack while driving a van, he crashed and died.

I knew some one in Shetland it happened to while he was riding his bike infront of his son who was on hiis own bike too, he died at the scene, but what made it worse he worked at the A&E dept. of the hospital, so so many people knew about it before it was official.
Thats almost as bad as when members of the blue light services attend an RTA and discover its one of their own family involved.

Bath Bonnie wrote:

Thats almost as bad as when members of the blue light services attend an RTA and discover its one of their own family involved.

Had a case years back when a winchman was lowered down the cliffs here on Portland to find the casualty was his son. He froze and they had to send up the standby aircraft to effect the rescue.

I always nagged my kids - never play on the cliffs. I didn't ever want to be placed in that position. You hear of it happening and I can't ever imagine what emotions you would feel. Any death is a sad loss, but to those who deal with it daily in A & E depts etc it must be heart wrenching.

Getting them out of building on fire, cutting them out of a car crash or pulling them out of what's left of an aircraft that has done a whoopsie, all terrible but necessary. Someone has to do it.

BrianG

I was one of them once, Staines Trident crash, was in Army Training at Woolwich and was called to attend originally to help keep the vultures fron knicking luggage and personal effects and keep entrances clear from site see'ers, but ended up helping to remove bodies, there were over 100!
If you attended and say you were not sick on the day you are either inhuman or a lier.
Worst sites an smells I've ever seen or smelt, seen some since but not on that scale thank god.
That alters you for life, believe me!

Bath Bonnie wrote:

That alters you for life, believe me!

Yup. Would not disagree Terry.

I had a rep for throwing up. And after - ask the wife. I was a nightmare evidently!!!! Quiet - sulky then aggressive!!! She couldn't cope with me!!

History now and retired to memories - with flash backs!

Terry,

I was one of the team inside what was left of that fuselage GARPI, cutting straps, clearing away rubbish and taking the bodies to the door where others removed them for identification. We had 118 in the end and were too exhausted to talk with the 'Vultures'/ press. We were in the first attandance from Heathrow, our base.

That was only one of the various 'jobs' I have attended during my 24 year career in the Airport Fire Service. We even had a couple of 'interesting' ones at a 'quiet' airport called Glasgow where I spent three years.

Life is full of experiences, some good, some not so!

It gives you a totally different outlook on life.

BrianG