Police are reminding people that exercise during Alert Level 4 should be restricted to your neighbourhood and to abstain from any activity which could result in the need for emergency services following a mountain biker's rescue in Queenstown yesterday.
Queenstown Police were "extremely disappointed" when they were called after a woman crashed while riding at a mountain biking park in Fernhill.
"Upon arrival Police estimated there were 50 or more mountain bikers on this track.
"Due to where the crash happened, it took two hours, a 4WD and several Police and ambulance staff to remove the injured woman from the site.
"The woman then had to be transported to Dunedin Hospital via helicopter.
"Police will be speaking to the biker at a later date and enforcement action for breaching restrictions will be considered."
Police said the other mountain bikers were all educated about Alert Level 4 rules.
"While police are still taking an education-first approach, as our responses show, we will move to enforcement action quickly when required."
Safe to ride?
However the president of the resort’s mountain bike club says the trail has been considered "safe" for riding during Alert Level 4.
Queenstown Mountain Bike Club president Pete McInally said he understood the woman suffered a head or facial injury and possible neck injury while riding on the McNearly Gnarly trail in the Fernhill Bike Park.
The trail was grade three (intermediate), making it similar to many parts of the Queenstown Trail network.
It also remained open during last year’s Level 4 lockdown, Mr McInally said.
Unlike the club’s jump parks in Fernhill and Gorge Rd, which were taped off and officially closed, he regarded it as safe for people living nearby to be riding during the lockdown.
‘‘I’ve been riding it every second day, and I’ve seen walkers and bikers in there — it wasn’t causing us any concerns.
‘‘It’s certainly the first time anyone’s been helied out of there that I recall in the three years since it was built.’
guy.williams@odt.co.nz and ODT online
