hrt4me

Cyclist's Fall From Bridge Ends In A Lucky Break
By Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer
The Virginian-Pilot
© September 14, 2009
VIRGINIA BEACH

video here

The reeds grow thick under the Pungo Ferry Bridge, and the marsh ground underneath them is soft and soggy from recent rain.

Elliott Craddock can be grateful for that.

The 18-year-old cyclist took a tumble off the concrete span Sunday morning, falling what rescuers estimate was 35 to 50 feet to the marsh below. He came out of it with a fractured shoulder blade - and not much more.

"The reeds, the foot of water, the mush underneath - all of that served to break his fall," said the young man 's father, Jeff Craddock. "I am amazed, truly, that he landed where he did."

Firefighters received a call around 8:20 a.m. reporting that a cyclist riding from the Pungo area of Virginia Beach to the Blackwater area had fallen off the bridge.

Elliott Craddock, an experienced bike racer, crossed the bridge often on training rides, his father said.

This time, though, he was riding in a group, and not long after the group crested the bridge, another rider hit Craddock from behind, said Virginia Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief Hedley Austin.

Craddock turned to the right, struck the bridge's concrete barrier and pitched over it.

"One of them just kind of touched the other, and that was it," Austin said. "It happened quickly."

By the time the other riders had stopped and run over to the side of the bridge to look for Craddock, he was back on his feet, telling them he was all right, his father said. He managed to climb up onto one of the bridge's pilings to wait to be rescued.

Firefighters rappelled down, administered care, then strapped Craddock into a harness and lifted him back up using one of their truck's cranes. He was taken to Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital for treatment.

There was an indent in the ground more than half a foot deep to mark the spot where Craddock landed, Austin said.

Jeff Craddock said his son had a headache, probably from a mild concussion; was covered in cuts and scratches from landing in the reeds; and was sore from his body tensing up as he flew through the air.

But other than that, "he's pretty much fine," he said. The rescue workers, he said, "were just amazing."

Austin said firefighters often train for "technical rescues" - rescues in unusual locations or circumstances - but executing them is rare.

"It's a procedure you practice day in and day out so that when it happens, hey, you're ready," he said.

grwoolf

Good to hear the guy is OK. I have a bit of a fear of heights and bridges make me nervous for this reason. I cross a long bridge that runs near a dam right near my house all the time and I never get comfortable on it. There is no way I would ride in a tight group over it. It is well over 100 feet to the water/ground below and the wind is often swirling. When the wind is really blowing, my heartbeat actually shots up from the fear factor, I'm such a wimp. At least there is a nice wide shoulder or I probably would not ride it.

mondaycurse

I have a bridge fear as well. There used to be a bridge over the Mississippi near Hannibal, MO where you could see literally dozens of holes in the pavement looking straight into the river.

frankum

Fantastic story and I'm really appreciative of the cyclist at the end thanking those who saved him. I was recently injured and I know how grateful it feels to be helped when sometimes you take things for granted as a cyclist.

hrt4me

The cyclist at the end of the video was the father of the kid who fell over the bridge.

MDcatV

I rode with this group (from Fat Frogs bike shop in VA Beach), including Elliot, over that bridge when i was on vacation in Sandbridge this past July. He's young, but a pretty good rider. I remember him because his frame had his name on it. It never occurred to me that something like this would/could happen. The ground is a long ways from the bridge road, amazing he is relatively unhurt. Glad about that.

Cone Wrench

Looks like he was using aero bars in a group...just sayin'

MDcatV

thought the same thing, lots of aero bar use in that area. seems to be a beach area thing.

merlinextraligh

Beach > Water> Triathlon> aerobars.

Down here there are a lot of triatheletes, particurly in the Beaches area.

hoodooguru

That plus it is freaking flat and windy down there.

cshell

Woo Hoo!

Down the street from me. This was on the news yesterday....