Volunteer injured after horror car crash at Geelong Revival Motoring Festival
Organisers have provided an update after a luxury car lost control and crashed at high speed into a concrete barrier in front of shocked spectators.
A volunteer is recovering in hospital after a terrifying near-miss when a luxury car lost control and crashed millimetres from him at a motoring event in Victoria.
Video shared on Facebook showed the moment a BMW spin out before it slams into the concrete barriers at Geelong’s Revival Motoring Festival on Saturday.
One male marshall standing nearby was able to jump out of the way in time, but another did not, and he fell backwards onto the bitumen.
Spectators screamed as they watched on in shock.
“Oh my gosh! Is he okay?” Chery Turley, who recorded the clip, asked.
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One bystander could be heard in the video claiming the car involved was a brand new electric BMW worth at least $100,000.
Another attendee said it appeared the volunteer had cut his leg in the incident.
Event director Nicholas Heath confirmed the marshal, aged in his 60s, suffered a “pretty significant foot injury” after the concrete barrier hit his limb.
“I’ve spoken to the family, and they’re keeping me abreast. He’s apparently quite chipper, but no one comes to these sorts of events expecting that to happen,” he said.
“We’re all a big family, so we’re just keeping in touch with the family.
“This is just a really unfortunate accident, and as a consequence, he has sustained a significant foot injury, and we hate for this sort of thing to happen.
“I felt heartsick when I heard.”
Mr Heath added that one of the likely contributing factors to the injury was how close the volunteer was standing to the road.
“That was one of the things that occurred that we would prefer, and we have looked at that and asked all marshals to stay at least a metre clear of the track,” he said.
Organisers said it is the first injury to a volunteer at the event in 12 years.
Spectators also pointed out that the marshal appeared to be wearing thongs, which is unsafe for many workplaces.
“It’s a very, very cool event, sort of quite unique … because it’s not just a straight drag strip, there’s that slight bend in it. I think they’ll be changing protocols on what the footwear is, that’s for sure,” attendee Manny Law said.
A safety review was held on Saturday night.
Organisers deemed the event safe enough to continue the following day.
The volunteer was taken to hospital where he is recovering.
The man behind the wheel of the BMW reportedly did not require treatment.
The luxury car crashed into the tyre barrier at the end of the road. It is understood he did not need medical attention.
Originally published as Volunteer injured after horror car crash at Geelong Revival Motoring Festival
