Biker rescued by air ambulance after breaking pelvis in horror crash on forest track

A biker who suffered a broken pelvis in a horror smash has thanked medics after he was rescued from a remote forest and rushed to hospital.
Paul Parker thanks RVI staff and Great North Air Ambulance for his care after a motorcycle accidentPaul Parker thanks RVI staff and Great North Air Ambulance for his care after a motorcycle accident
Paul Parker thanks RVI staff and Great North Air Ambulance for his care after a motorcycle accident

Sunderland dad Paul Parker was out riding at Slaley Forest, Northumberland, on Saturday afternoon when he was severely injured.

The 41-year-old was out enjoying a day riding with two friends when he came off the road on a tight bend in the forest and veered into a grassed area.

Paul Parker and his daughter , Aimee, 10, while recovering in the Royal Victroia Infirmary Newcastle.Paul Parker and his daughter , Aimee, 10, while recovering in the Royal Victroia Infirmary Newcastle.
Paul Parker and his daughter , Aimee, 10, while recovering in the Royal Victroia Infirmary Newcastle.
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Paul, who is an offshore electrical supervisor for Shell, hit a pile of logs and landed after flipping off his road-legal KTM enduro bike on to the gravel road – leaving him with a fractured pelvis.

“It was around 1.20pm on Saturday and I was on my way back home going along the track that goes through Slaley Forest when I tried to steer around a tight bend and came off the track, hitting a pile of logs.

“When I crashed I was stuck lying on my front on the ground, as I had broken my pelvis and couldn’t move.

“The ambulance service came from Prudhoe and got me on a spinal board and gave me morphine to settle the pain. They called the air ambulance and they gave me gas and air and airlifted me out of the forest because it was quite a bumpy road.”

Paul Parker, left, on the day of his accident.Paul Parker, left, on the day of his accident.
Paul Parker, left, on the day of his accident.
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Due to his location, the Great North Air Ambulance Service was called, which flew him to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary within 20 minutes where he arrived in a stable condition around 3pm.  

He is now recovering in hospital after breaking the front and back of his pelvis, an injury which could take weeks to heal.

The married father of one said he wanted to thank the service for coming to his aid.

Paul, of Dairy Lane, Houghton, said: “All of the people involved with my care that day and to date on the ward have been exceptional.

Paul Parker thanks RVI staff and Great North Air Ambulance for his care after a motorcycle accidentPaul Parker thanks RVI staff and Great North Air Ambulance for his care after a motorcycle accident
Paul Parker thanks RVI staff and Great North Air Ambulance for his care after a motorcycle accident
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“They do a very hard job and must see some horrendous incidents. From the ambulance service from Prudhoe, to the Great North Air Ambulance, which is charity funded and, of course, the RVI staff.”

Mr Parker now says he will not go biking again as a result of the accident and has warned other bikers to make sure they wear the correct safety gear.

He said: “Every couple of weekends I used to go out on the bike with my friends. The route we were on is a normal route that bikers go through, but I will not do it again now. I have a little girl, Aimee, who is ten, and my wife Julie, who are one of the reasons why I am giving up.

“If I hadn’t had the proper full body armour on, I definitely would have had more serious injuries.

Paul Parker thanks RVI staff and Great North Air Ambulance for his care after a motorcycle accident
From left staff nurse Ellie Collins, Natalie Horsman, Helen Malone and physio Sophia WardPaul Parker thanks RVI staff and Great North Air Ambulance for his care after a motorcycle accident
From left staff nurse Ellie Collins, Natalie Horsman, Helen Malone and physio Sophia Ward
Paul Parker thanks RVI staff and Great North Air Ambulance for his care after a motorcycle accident From left staff nurse Ellie Collins, Natalie Horsman, Helen Malone and physio Sophia Ward
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“I would warn other bikers to make sure they wear the right gear.

“The ambulance services are worth their weight in gold. If they hadn’t got to me, I would be in a lot more pain.

“I can’t thank them enough.”