Team News – Pete Williams discharged from hospital

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Haribo Beacon rider Peter Williams, who suffered a crash on the 5th lap of Stage 2 in the Tour of the Reservoir whilst descending at speeds in excess of 80km/h has been discharged from hospital.

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Team News – Pete Williams discharged from hospital

After suffering a puncture within the first 10km of the race, Pete rode strongly to get back to the peloton before the first lap was completed by which time the break of day had formed.

Madison-Genesis were controlling the pace of the peloton which meant a relatively smooth opening 80km. Pete was riding close to the front of the bunch as he began to descend through Edmundyers for the 5th time.

As the race caravan followed the peloton, Pete was suddenly the sole rider on the ground in the right hand gutter. He was knocked unconscious with obvious impact wounds to helmet and clothing.

Within seconds of the accident, the team car was with Pete and providing medical support along with the familiar face of Chris Truett [Champion Systems], who managed Pete as a junior rider. First aid was provided on the road side by the events medical staff before an ambulance and air ambulance arrived within 15 minutes.

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Pete’s teammate James Sampson talks to the commissaire while the road is closed due to the accident.

Pete was able to walk into the ambulance and was transported Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary for observation. Following a series of tests and a CT scan eliminated and serious injury, although x-ray showed a fractured cheek bone. He was discharged from hospital to return home suffering with head to toe cuts & bruises.

Team Manager commented “Pete showed dramatic improvements in the hours following the accident after suffering concussion. Whilst regaining consciousness, the first questions he was asking were about team mates and other riders, making sure everyone else was ok. This is typical of his character and before we arrived in hospital messages asking about the welfare of one of the most popular riders in the peloton were being received.”

“Further assessments will be made as swelling reduces over the coming days, but he is expected to make a quick recovery to full training and racing within a matter of weeks. I would like to thank the events medical support. We all hope never to require such assistance and despite being on one of the most remote circuits in the UK the response times were very impressive”.

Pete has no recollection of the crash, but on speaking with Russ Downing who was riding to his left, it seems that he hit a hole or bump in the road. It doesn’t appear that anyone was at fault and there was no collision of riders. We are thankful that nobody else came down in the crash and that the injuries sustained were not more severe.”

Every HARIBO Beacon rider receives annual medical screening including concussion tests, which provide vital indicators for athletes returning to sport after serious head injuries. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the medical staff from the race organisation, the police force and of course Healthcare Management Trust for their ongoing support.

Updates on Pete’s progress as he returns to race fitness will be posted here in due course.

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