An off-duty paramedic used a wheel spoke to try and save a mountain biker who went into cardiac arrest after a fall on a popular Tasmanian course.
James Edward MacPherson was on the cusp of opening a cafe in Melbourne when he travelled to Hobart with friends in March 2022.
A coronial report published on Wednesday outlined the details of the 29-year-old’s death at the popular Maydena Bike Park northwest of the Hobart on March 11.
Mr. MacPherson had about six years’ experience mountain biking and was using his own safety gear including gloves, knee pads, goggles and a new helmet.
The group embarked on an intermediate trail about midday when a friend riding ahead of him heard a rattle and a loud thud.
Mr. MacPherson was found conscious, lying face down about an arm’s length from his bike.
He was likely trying to negotiate a bend when the front wheel of his bike turned 90 degrees, causing the bike to stop and him to be thrown over the handlebars, Coroner Olivia McTaggart wrote in her report.
After the fall, Mr. MacPherson asked for an ambulance and his friend called the isolated bike park’s emergency number.
An off-duty paramedic who worked at the park attended with two of her colleagues before calling an ambulance helicopter to extract Mr MacPherson.
A developing collapsed lung was suspected.
Another rider, a registered nurse, joined the group trying to help Mr. MacPherson as he began to spit blood and lose consciousness.
As Mr. MacPherson went into cardiac arrest, the off-duty paramedic inserted a bike spoke into his chest under a doctor’s guidance in a bid to stop air accumulating between his chest wall and lung.
Paramedics arrived about 1.20pm and unsuccessfully attempted to revive Mr MacPherson.
Ms. McTaggart found Mr. MacPherson died of severe blunt trauma, including bleeding, of his chest and lungs.
The group who gave him first aid could not have done anything more to save him, she said.
The coroner found no problems with Mr MacPherson’s bike or the track, where another rider fatally crashed in 2018. She also deemed the course to be suited to Mr. MacPherson’s riding ability.
“I make no criticism of the Maydena Bike Park in respect of any issue connected with Mr MacPherson’s death,” the coroner said.
She gave her condolences to Mr. MacPherson’s loved ones.
