A biker has told of the terrifying moment he hurtled down a 50ft ravine “like a bouncing bomb” after misjudging a corner during the annual SCAA Biker Bash.
Gary Leslie was airlifted to Ninewells hospital by the very aircraft he was raising funds for after crashing in the Sma’ Glen on Sunday afternoon.
The 50-year-old suffered a broken femur and his beloved Honda CBR 600 was rendered a write-off after it “cartwheeled” down the hill after him, landing near his head.
Gary, who used to be a motorcycle instructor in the army, had passed a group of bikers just before his crash but they did not witness it.
He said: “I was following my friend and he had got ahead of three or four riders ahead of me but I had to wait till there was a passing space for myself.
“I passed them and put about 200 metres between us but as I’ve gone round the bend they’ve maybe lost sight of me.
“I outbraked myself – I didn’t leave myself enough time to slow down for the bend. I probably got three quarters of the way round and then I ran out of road.
“I hit a bump on the verge. I shoved my bike away and closed my eyes. I was a bit like a bouncing bomb going down – I must have bounced twice or three times before landing in a stream.
“The first time I hit the ground I thought ‘that’s good’ but then I took off again and I thought ‘oh, this is going to hurt’. I just closed my eyes and tried to relax. I couldn’t do anything else – I was in the hands of the Gods.”
He thanked all of the emergency services for their role in his rescue.
“I was there to support SCAA,” he said. “You never want to use their services but without them being available I could have been there longer.
“It took two hours from start to finish to get me out. It was a 20 minute flight to get me to Ninewells but if it was by road it would have been an hour or longer.
“All the services that were there on Sunday and if you think of the cost of it, and of the hospital treatment, I am very grateful.
“There was no way I could have got out of there myself and I would have probably died. Without doubt, 100%, there is someone looking after me.”
However Gary, who lives in Perth, is determined to get back on two wheels as quickly as possible.
“I will be getting a replacement (bike),” he said. “I have a run out to Applecross in July with friends and colleagues. The consultant said I should be load-bearing on my leg within two to three weeks.
“I will do the SCAA run again next year. I was talking to Mike Buchan, one of the marshals who found me, and said I hope it doesn’t exclude me from next year, but he said ‘not at all’.”
Mike was one of the first on the scene after the crash.
He said: “I had been marshalling about 10 miles back along the road. I got the nod to continue the run.
“I saw a guy standing on the left, waving frantically, and he said his friend had gone off the road.
“We went up and down looking and then I saw a glint of light – it must have been off his helmet.
“It could have happened to anyone – it’s very easy for bikers to get into trouble really quickly.
“He’s been a very lucky guy.”
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/perth-kinross/179343/hands-gods-scaa-biker-bash-crash-rider-relives-terrifying-crash/
