Commonwealth Games 2022: Aussie cyclist Josh Duffy relives chaos of horror crash
An injured English cyclist has shared an image of his war wounds following his terrifying velodrome crowd crash where he was treated in the stands for more than 40 minutes. See the photo.
English cyclist Matt Walls has shared a photo from his hospital bed just days after a freak accident at the velodrome saw him and his bike catapulted into the crowd injuring himself and spectators.
There were fears Walls had sustained significant injuries when paramedics put privacy barriers up around him as he was treated on the floor where he’d crashed into a number of fans.
The action at the velodrome was suspended and all members of the public were asked to leave while Walls received treatment.
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Incredibly, the 24-year-old avoided serious injury and was discharged from hospital 24 hours after the accident with stitches to his head.
Two other riders were hospitalised and two members of the public were left bloodied and bruised.
Walls’s parents were not at the velodrome but had watched in horror as the incident was broadcast on TV.
His mum Lorraine ran from her hotel to the velodrome for news on her son.
‘It was a horrible time but after 45 minutes, we heard Matt was conscious and Lorraine arrived at the velodrome and we could all relax,” Walls father Larry said.
“’I was watching the Games live on TV and Lorraine ran from hotel to velodrome after hearing about the crash.
“Lorraine and Matt’s girlfriend Fleur visited him in hospital and he was in good form and got checked out in the evening back to the hotel.”
‘Scary’: Aussie cyclist’s ‘huge shock’ at 60km/h crash horror
Tasmanian cyclist Josh Duffy couldn’t believe his eyes when England’s Matt Walls and his bike flew through the air just above him and into the crowd in a terrifying crash at the Commonwealth Games velodrome.
“I’ve never seen it happen before, I’ve seen guys hit the fence and ride on the fence a little bit, so it was pretty scary because I was right there when it happened and I saw him go over the fence,” he said.
“It was a huge shock to see him just disappear over the fence like that, I’ve never seen it before.
“Everything happened pretty quickly at that stage. You are kind of aware that there is something pretty nasty happening in front of you and then all of a sudden there are guys on the ground and at that speed there is not much you can do to avoid it.”
After multiple cyclists in front of him crashed, Duffy and New Zealander George Jackson slid up the banking at the velodrome — which forced Walls up and above the railings and into the stands.
Walls was treated in the stands for more than 40 minutes before being taken to hospital.
Miraculously, he has “stitches in his forehead, scrapes and bruises” but no major injuries, according to Team England.
“It’s unreal really (that Walls is OK),” Duffy said.
The 22-year-old from Launceston also escaped any significant injuries, despite hitting the boards at high speed.
“It has stiffened up a fair bit overnight but nothing is broken, so I’m all right,” he said. “Plenty of burns and skin off, but nothing that won’t heal over time.”
Despite the heavy crash and the sheer disbelief at what he had just witnessed, Duffy was able to get back on his bike and finish the race to qualify for the final.
The shocking image of Walls going into the crowd — multiple spectators were injured but didn’t require hospital treatment — prompted fierce debate about whether additional safety measures needed to be introduced at velodromes.
England’s Olympic gold medallist Laura Kenny revealed she was hesitant to race later on in the day after the crash.
“Maybe there should be screens because Matt should not have been able to go over the top and into a crowd,” she said.
“That’s pretty damned dangerous for him and the spectators.”
Scottish legend Chris Hoy said there needed to be plexiglas screens around the rails at velodromes.
“I hope the people in power look at this and think something really has to be done before something genuinely serious happens in the future,” he said.
“I think it’s preventable if you put a plexiglas screen around like they do in ice hockey.”
Duffy said he was unsure what changes could be made.
“Honestly, I don’t really know enough to talk about that sort of thing, but as long as rider safety is at the forefront any decision is right I think,” he said.
After the crash British cycling legend Chris Boardman told News Corp the big difference in the ability of riders from a range of countries that can compete at the Commonwealth Games could have contributed to the horror crash.
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