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Isle of Man TT spectator seriously injured | Isle of Man TT spectator seriously injured |
(35 minutes later) | |
Eleven spectators have been taken to hospital following a crash on the opening lap of the Senior TT race in the Isle of Man. | Eleven spectators have been taken to hospital following a crash on the opening lap of the Senior TT race in the Isle of Man. |
Race organisers said "none of the injuries are life threatening although one person has been seriously injured". | Race organisers said "none of the injuries are life threatening although one person has been seriously injured". |
It happened on Friday, just after 13:00 BST, on Bray Hill when a rider crashed on the fast downhill section less than a mile from the start. | It happened on Friday, just after 13:00 BST, on Bray Hill when a rider crashed on the fast downhill section less than a mile from the start. |
The competitor involved, Jonathan Howarth from Barnsley, escaped unhurt. | The competitor involved, Jonathan Howarth from Barnsley, escaped unhurt. |
Witness Stuart Plant described the scene as "chaos" and said he saw "flying debris". | Witness Stuart Plant described the scene as "chaos" and said he saw "flying debris". |
He said it looked like the bike "hit the crowd opposite at some speed". | He said it looked like the bike "hit the crowd opposite at some speed". |
The race was subsequently red-flagged. | The race was subsequently red-flagged. |
Another witness, John Leonard said: "I saw the rider comer over top of the hill and he lost the back end of the bike. | Another witness, John Leonard said: "I saw the rider comer over top of the hill and he lost the back end of the bike. |
"It was fish-tailing at phenomenal speed - there was no way he was staying on the bike. | "It was fish-tailing at phenomenal speed - there was no way he was staying on the bike. |
Bike 'disintegrated' | Bike 'disintegrated' |
"He slid past on his belly and went all the way through the lights at the bottom of the hill into a lamppost-amazingly he got up and walked away." | "He slid past on his belly and went all the way through the lights at the bottom of the hill into a lamppost-amazingly he got up and walked away." |
Manx Radio reporter David Harrison was also a spectator in the area at the time of the crash and said the rider's bike completely disintegrated in the crash. | Manx Radio reporter David Harrison was also a spectator in the area at the time of the crash and said the rider's bike completely disintegrated in the crash. |
"The wheel and the petrol tank of the bike flew straight across the road- it actually came over my head, only yards away from us," he continued. | "The wheel and the petrol tank of the bike flew straight across the road- it actually came over my head, only yards away from us," he continued. |
"Everyone ducked and screamed and ran away in the panic." | "Everyone ducked and screamed and ran away in the panic." |
Bray Hill is one of the most popular vantage points for TT spectators. | Bray Hill is one of the most popular vantage points for TT spectators. |
Race organisers have confirmed the race will re-start at 16:30 (BST). | Race organisers have confirmed the race will re-start at 16:30 (BST). |
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