Finke Desert Race sees dozens injured transported to hospital

St John NT has revealed tens of people at the Finke Desert Race had to be transported for treatment over the four day event.

ST JOHN has revealed 27 people at the Finke Desert Race had to be transported to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment over the four day event.

In total St John Ambulance staff treated 37 people during the event.

It comes after Nigel Harris, 60, a spectator, died on Monday and another man aged in his 50s is fighting for his life after sustaining serious injuries in the crash.

This is compared to 20 competitors and seven spectators being admitted to hospital in 2015 and 32 competitors injured and 14 spectators suffering minor injuries in 2018.

St John NT Regional Southern manager Paul Bellman said crews were busy during the event despite a reduction in competitor numbers due to Covid-19 restrictions with 580 riders and 140 vehicles competing.

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Mr Harris died on Monday morning after being struck at the 35km mark.

Paramedics managed two patients with serious spinal injuries who were transported by helicopter to Alice Springs.

“Several other competitors with minor fractures, back pain and a variety of soft tissue injuries were treated and transported by ambulance, or released to family and friends,” Mr Bellman said.

St John NT also managed three spectators involved in a vehicle accident while travelling around the event.

A total of 36 staff, 20 volunteers and four student paramedics made up the St John NT Finke support team.

He said St John NT manned six points across the event and had three roving 4WD response vehicles, three helicopters, three single response vehicles, two transport ambulances and a permanent command presence in the Finke control room over the weekend.

“This was a busy event for St John NT but everyone performed superbly, with timely responses and the right care provided at the right time to all that required our services,” he said.

The Finke Desert Race in Central Australian has run for the past 45 years.

Originally published as Finke Desert Race sees dozens injured transported to hospital