The Thames Valley Air Ambulance has landed at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde tonight (Thursday) as a result of a speeding racing incident involving 2 riders.
Track medics were first to respond to the incident, with paramedics and a Critical Care Doctor from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service now joined by the flying doctors from Thames Valley at Smallbrook, where racing action has been abandoned following a 2nd bend crash.
Island Echo is told that the 2 riders racing in the Upright Championship came into contact and crashed into the safety barrier, with 1 of the riders becoming entangled within his machine.
Assessments are now underway to determine the seriousness of the injuries sustained, with it looking likely the speedway rider will be airlifted to Southampton.
The other rider involved – Tim Curnock – has walked away from the crash.
UPDATE @ 21:40 – The rider – Chris Mackett from Kent – has now been airlifted to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance.
Further updates are expected from the Wightlink Warriors – hosts of tonight’s meeting – in due course.
Smallbrook Stadium is one of the country’s largest and quickest tracks and was the setting for tonight’s speedway action, which will now be rescheduled or abandoned.
UPDATE FRIDAY – It has been confirmed that Mackett has sustained a number of broken ribs and a broken sternum, as well as fractured vertebrae.
He remains in hospital for treatment.
VIDEO: The moment the Thames Valley Air Ambulance lands on the centre green at Smallbrook
It’ll give the old faithful followers a chance to reacquaint themselves with each other in hotel rooms again.
The hospitals really need Sporting/entertainment injuries just now ???
Any relation to Mackets Rackit of yore ??