Critical injuries to rider in Mountbatten centre 4th Cat 14-10-12 can you help!

Primarily for Dave Dawkins who was racing but if anyone else happened to be there please see the message below.

Can you please help with this? (British Cycling and the organiser are currently refusing to release information to our family)
Below is a list of riders who participated in this event - you will note some from your respective clubs;

Please note that during this race my brother Colin was critically injured in a major pile up during the bunch sprint - he remains fighting for his life on a ventilator.

As his family we are anxious to support his wife and two children going forward and understand that all licenced riders carry third party insurance. We are now therefore trying to establish if there is an "at fault" rider responsible for the carnage that unfolded at the Mountbatten centre two weeks ago!

I have several eye witnesses so far but nothing conclusive yet! However I have been made aware of the following;

1. That a young lady was filming the events finish for a competator - do you know who she is?
2. There was an event photographer who somewhat macarbly took photo's of the stricken riders whilst they lay on the floor - including my brother who was recieving CPR - do you know who he is?

Colin is currently horribly injured with injurries that include a collapsed lung + pneumonia, four broken ribs, broken teeth a broken colar bone a secondary bacterial infection but most significantly damage to the front of his brain - the impact of which we are yet to fully discover.

If he survives it is unlikely that he will ever be able to work again and therefore your help for his family is urgently needed.

Many thanks in anticipation.
Steve Johnson (Colin's brother & fellow racing cyclist)

14 Mr Dave Dawkins Team Axiom

Andy

I did take part in that race but i didnt see what caused the crash as i was to busy trying to concentrate on getting round it and not to get taken out myself. I will say however that near enough every cat 4 race i have taken part in there has been an accident of sorts. I have also noticed that it is mostly to do with mad crazy riding where people are trying to get into gaps that just dont exist. I did notice one partucular rider that was riding crazy from the start of that race. At the end of the race 3 or 4 of us where pushed on to the grass to avoid the accident. When the race was over we both myself and a guy from Fareham Wheelers commented on one partucular rider who was riding crazy from the start. I am not in any way saying this guy was responsible for the crash its just he stuck out to me.

By chance a guy i work with had his son down there that day watching the race and he witnessed the crash so he may be able to help out. The guy is on holiday this week but when he is back next week i will explain to him that we need more info and see if he can help. I dont mind if you give out my home email address to Steve Johnson just incase he wants to contact me.

This is a tragic accident and my thoughts are with Colin and his family.
I would also like to ask as a club is there anything we can do for Colins family. I have been planning a ride for next year which will see us cycle from the Lizard in Cornwall to Dover in Kent 400 miles which will see us travel the whole of the south coast. This we are going to do non stop so would take about 28-30 hours, it would be great if we could get all the other clubs in our region to take part and help raise money for Colin and his family to help them out a bit. Or infact any club anywhere to raise as much money for them.

Tony i know you are keen to do this ride what are your thougts in putting this out to all the other clubs for them all to take part

Dave.

this is a very sad story. bear in mind that your brother signed the declaration in order to race>>>

DECLARATION-
I declare that I am eligible under British Cycling Technical Regulations to enter this race and that the information on this form is complete and correct.
I understand and agree that I participate in this race entirely at my own risk, that I must rely on my own ability in dealing with all hazards and that I must ride in a manner which is safe for myself and all others. I am aware that when riding in an event and particularly when riding on a public highway the function of the marshals is only to indicate direction and that I must decide if the movement is safe. I agree that no liability whatsoever shall be attached to the promoter, promoting club, meeting sponsor(s), British Cycling, or any official or member of the British Cycling or member of the promoting club in respect of any injury, loss or damage suffered by me in or by reason of the race, however caused.

Regardless if there was a rider who was "at Fault" I do not think pursuing him/her will be a legal (or otherwise) route open to you as the 3rd party insurance held by BC members does not cover competitive events.>>

Liability insurance for Ride members at fault

Third Party (Public) Liability Insurance is provided by British Cycling's insurers to ‘Ride' members who are normally resident in the United Kingdom and find themselves wholly or partly responsible for an incident whilst riding or wheeling their cycle.

If you are involved in an incident that was (or is alleged to have been) your fault or partly your fault your insurance cover indemnifies you in respect of a successful third party claim made against you to a limit of £10 million and you will not be liable for the payment of any insurance ‘excess'.

This essential member insurance covers noncompetitive, social, leisure and utility cycling but does not cover competitive cycling. (Competitive cycling is defined as any cycling activity that involves a race or time trial for which results are published in order of finishing time or position).

however, if you Brother held a gold BC membership at the time he will have personal accident insurance that does cover races held under BC rules. >>

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership/article/memst-Personal-Accident-Insurance-0

I wish you brother well and we all hope he makes a good recovery.

luke