A MOUNTAIN biker who broke both his arms after crashing during a ride has praised ramblers who rushed to his aid.

Greg O’Shaughnessy, of Kidderminster, said the incident could have been a lot worse had the walkers not come to his rescue.

He explained he was aware of rumours about tensions between the groups and about ramblers putting sticks on cycle routes,but said he “could not have done without them” after the crash.

Mr O’Shaughnessy had been cycling along a track at Coopers Mill, near Bewdley, with his friend Alan Cadwallader on June 2 when he suddenly lost control of the bike.

“I tried to aim for some soft bushes and I failed to see a 12ft drop, which I just cycled over the edge of and landed on concrete,” he said.

“I was unable to help myself.

I had two broken arms and my helmet was cracked so it was lucky I was wearing it.”

He added about 10 ramblers stopped in their tracks and kept him warm with blankets and cardigans as he went into shock.

“Some of them had to cycle off on my bike to get a phone signal to call an ambulance,”

Mr O’Shaughnessy said.

“Some of the walkers helped [Alan]to get the bikes home. I was very grateful for their actions.

“Had they not been on the scene, we would have been in trouble because [Alan] would’ve got lost trying to find a signal.

“Without them,I would’ve been lying there for two or three hours.”

He added he wanted to say thank you to the ramblers for their actions following the accident at about 3pm.

“They gave up their afternoon and without their help it could’ve been different,” he said.

“I know what goes on with sticks being put on our tracks but it’s never affected me on a cycle and all I can say is on that particular day I could not have done without them.”