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Olinda mountain bike rider in critical condition after crashing on Mount Dandenong track

A cyclist is fighting for life in hospital after a bushwalker found him trapped unconscious under his mountain bike on a steep Mount Dandenong track. Paramedics had to be driven into the treacherous terrain in fire tankers.

A mountain bike rider was flown to hospital about 9pm.
A mountain bike rider was flown to hospital about 9pm.

A mountain bike rider is fighting for life at The Royal Melbourne Hospital after he was found with life-threatening injuries in Mt Dandenong bushland.

Emergency services launched a large-scale rescue after the 54-year-old Olinda man was discovered lying unconscious and trapped under his bike by a walker last night.

The hospital has confirmed the man remains in a critical and fighting for life.

The man was flown to hospital about 9pm.
The man was flown to hospital about 9pm.

CFA firefighters, SES, police and paramedics spent more than an hour working to rescue the man from an off-road track more than 1km from the road.

The track is near Ridge and Doongala Forest Rd in the hills.

Kalorama CFA captain Michael Motteram said emergency services were called to the “extremely steep” Zig Zag Track about 7.30pm after the man was found by a walker.

Mr Motteram said the walker found the man unconscious and trapped under his bike, and gave him CPR.

It is believed the rider was going downhill when he hit a bump in track at high speed and lost control and hit his head.

Mr Motteram said it was unknown how long the man had been there before he was found.

The man was found on the Zig Zag track on Mt Dandenong.
The man was found on the Zig Zag track on Mt Dandenong.

Mr Motteram said firefighters had to drive paramedics to the scene in tankers because the area was too steep to access by ambulance.

About 12 people then wheeled the injured man up the steep mountainside in a stretcher using a special pulley, before he was driven by ambulance to the helicopter, he said.

Mr Motteram said 36 people were involved in the rescue, including members from his brigade, Olinda and Monbulk CFA, and the Lilydale SES.

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He said it was a great effort, with the teams having previously rescued numerous cyclists and walkers.

Yarra Ranges highway patrol Acting Sergeant Chad Bullock, who was also on scene, said the man was unconscious throughout the rescue.

He said the man’s wife told police he was an experienced rider.

“He regularly goes off by himself around the hills,” Act Sgt Bullock said.

“She’s absolutely very worried.”

serena.seyfort@news.com.au

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/outer-east/olinda-mountain-bike-rider-in-critical-condition-after-crashing-on-mount-dandenong-track/news-story/3bd506b1365c586dee7eb9ecf28f1af0