Mike Vandeman
January 23rd 07, 04:03 PM
Meanwhile, mountain bikers continue to pretend that their sport is
harmless and even healthful! He wasn't even smart enough to stay put!
Mike
Missing mountain biker found in Franklin
By David Riley/Daily News staff
Monday, January 22, 2007 - Updated: 01:06 AM EST
FRANKLIN - Emergency responders spent nearly two hours searching
Franklin State Forest yesterday for an injured mountain biker.
The man ultimately was found and taken to Milford Regional Medical
Center at about 2:36 p.m. with an apparently non-life-threatening
chest or shoulder injury, Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said last night.
Two friends who were riding along with the injured man identified him
last night as Martin Goldstein of Norfolk. Goldstein is a veteran
bicyclist who is used to taking a few spills, but he was hurt when his
cycle skidded out from under him on ice on a patch of ice, his friends
said.
"He was having trouble breathing," said Bob Martucci of Franklin, one
of Goldstein's friends. "He said he needed help, quick."
But help was delayed because Goldstein and a friend unknowingly were
walking away from rescuers and the trail entrance off Forge Hill Road,
McCarraher said.
"The overall incident was prolonged by about an hour because we were
chasing them through the woods," McCarraher said.
About 17 on- and off-duty Franklin firefighters and paramedics
participated in the search, along with Franklin and Medway police,
McCarraher said. A state police helicopter was called off on its way
to Franklin after Goldstein was located.
In the end, a private resident with an all-terrain vehicle located
Goldstein and brought him to paramedics on Spring Street, McCarraher
said. That resident's name was not available last night.
Martucci and John McHugh of Norfolk said they and Goldstein are
familiar with the State Forest and ride the rugged trails quite often.
"He's been doing this a long time," McHugh said of his hurt friend.
"He's been riding all over the country."
They were about a half-hour walk down the trail when Goldstein fell,
they said. Goldstein was unable to get up, so McHugh said he rode his
bike to get help while Martucci used a cell phone to call emergency
responders.
Firefighters and police headed to the scene at about 12:36 p.m. and
began searching the forest from Forge Hill Road, Old Grove Street and
Spring Street, McCarraher said.
Medway Police provided all-terrain vehicles along with Franklin
officers who brought in their own private ATVs, McCarraher said.
But Goldstein began shaking as he waited for help, Martucci said. He
was able to get up and felt better moving, so the pair began walking.
At the same time, McHugh was guiding firefighters back into the
forest.
The men kept moving, though authorities spoke with them via cell phone
and asked them to stay put, McCarraher said.
The fire chief said he understands the anxiety of being lost in the
cold woods. But continuing to move while emergency responders search
can be dangerous and delayed care for the injured biker, he said.
It's a problem not limited to Franklin, McCarraher said. "People with
cell phone technology call for help and don't stay put," he said.
After Goldstein was taken to the hospital, McHugh and Martucci
ventured back into the forest to retrieve their bikes, only to find
them gone. The men said they hoped police or firefighters had picked
up the bicycles.
"I was impressed with how many vehicles were looking for us," Martucci
said.
David Riley can be reached at 508-634-7585 or .
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)
Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande
harmless and even healthful! He wasn't even smart enough to stay put!
Mike
Missing mountain biker found in Franklin
By David Riley/Daily News staff
Monday, January 22, 2007 - Updated: 01:06 AM EST
FRANKLIN - Emergency responders spent nearly two hours searching
Franklin State Forest yesterday for an injured mountain biker.
The man ultimately was found and taken to Milford Regional Medical
Center at about 2:36 p.m. with an apparently non-life-threatening
chest or shoulder injury, Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said last night.
Two friends who were riding along with the injured man identified him
last night as Martin Goldstein of Norfolk. Goldstein is a veteran
bicyclist who is used to taking a few spills, but he was hurt when his
cycle skidded out from under him on ice on a patch of ice, his friends
said.
"He was having trouble breathing," said Bob Martucci of Franklin, one
of Goldstein's friends. "He said he needed help, quick."
But help was delayed because Goldstein and a friend unknowingly were
walking away from rescuers and the trail entrance off Forge Hill Road,
McCarraher said.
"The overall incident was prolonged by about an hour because we were
chasing them through the woods," McCarraher said.
About 17 on- and off-duty Franklin firefighters and paramedics
participated in the search, along with Franklin and Medway police,
McCarraher said. A state police helicopter was called off on its way
to Franklin after Goldstein was located.
In the end, a private resident with an all-terrain vehicle located
Goldstein and brought him to paramedics on Spring Street, McCarraher
said. That resident's name was not available last night.
Martucci and John McHugh of Norfolk said they and Goldstein are
familiar with the State Forest and ride the rugged trails quite often.
"He's been doing this a long time," McHugh said of his hurt friend.
"He's been riding all over the country."
They were about a half-hour walk down the trail when Goldstein fell,
they said. Goldstein was unable to get up, so McHugh said he rode his
bike to get help while Martucci used a cell phone to call emergency
responders.
Firefighters and police headed to the scene at about 12:36 p.m. and
began searching the forest from Forge Hill Road, Old Grove Street and
Spring Street, McCarraher said.
Medway Police provided all-terrain vehicles along with Franklin
officers who brought in their own private ATVs, McCarraher said.
But Goldstein began shaking as he waited for help, Martucci said. He
was able to get up and felt better moving, so the pair began walking.
At the same time, McHugh was guiding firefighters back into the
forest.
The men kept moving, though authorities spoke with them via cell phone
and asked them to stay put, McCarraher said.
The fire chief said he understands the anxiety of being lost in the
cold woods. But continuing to move while emergency responders search
can be dangerous and delayed care for the injured biker, he said.
It's a problem not limited to Franklin, McCarraher said. "People with
cell phone technology call for help and don't stay put," he said.
After Goldstein was taken to the hospital, McHugh and Martucci
ventured back into the forest to retrieve their bikes, only to find
them gone. The men said they hoped police or firefighters had picked
up the bicycles.
"I was impressed with how many vehicles were looking for us," Martucci
said.
David Riley can be reached at 508-634-7585 or .
===
I am working on creating wildlife habitat that is off-limits to
humans ("pure habitat"). Want to help? (I spent the previous 8
years fighting auto dependence and road construction.)
Please don't put a cell phone next to any part of your body that you are fond of!
http://home.pacbell.net/mjvande