Boy rushed to Alder Hey Hospital with horror injury after being 'impaled by bike' on Longridge pump track
A boy was impaled by his bike’s handlebars after a ‘horrific freak accident’ on a BMX track in Longridge.
The youngster, believed to be around 10-years-old, fell off his bike on the pump track on the Recreation Ground, off Kestor Lane on Friday evening (August 1).
The lad was reportedly in agony after the bike’s handlebars went through his leg, impaling him.
His mum shared an update on his condition with a local Facebook page at the weekend. She said her son will be OK, but will require surgery on his injured leg.
“It was a horrific freak accident,” said his mum. “I’m sure the pump track won’t see another injury the same as that one again!”
A member of the public provided first aid and comforted the injured boy while ambulance crews were called to the scene.
The air ambulance was deployed but later stood down, with the youngster taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool by road.
The Longridge pump track has been popular with the town’s young people since it opened in April at cost of £100,000.
A pump track is a circuit of rollers, banked turns and other features designed to be used by BMX riders ‘pumping’ their bodies up and down to create momentum.
Ribble Valley Borough Council, which contributed £60,000 to fund the pump track, said the circuits are an “increasingly popular way to exercise and develop balance and handling skills in a safe environment away from traffic and other dangers”.
A Council spokesperson said: "We have not received a report of an incident at the Longridge Pump Track, but are aware of social media comments regarding an accident.
"From reports, it appears that the accident was not the result of any defect in the track, which has been designed to meet all the latest safety standards, along with signage clearly on display regarding its safe use.
"We will investigate what has happened and if necessary take further action to encourage the track’s safe use."
The track was created after consultation with Longridge residents, who said they needed a ‘wheeled sports facility’ in the town. it was designed by top pump track company Velosolutions, which is said to be behind some of the best tracks in the world.
The Longridge track is 175 metres long, two metres wide and features bumps and berms up to 1.8 metres high. As well as bicycles, it is suitable for scooters, rollerblades, skateboards and wheelchairs.
Ribble Valley Borough Council were approached for comment.