A TEENAGER was airlifted to hospital after coming off his mountain bike on a popular trail last night (Tuesday, June 23).
The 17-year-old badly injured his ankle after the fall in Hamsterley Forest, County Durham, at about 6.30pm.
Members of the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team and the North East Ambulance Service evacuated the youngster.
Pete Bell, Mountain Rescue Team Leader, said: "We were called out around 6.30pm to assist local paramedics with a mountain biker who had come of his bike on a forest trail approximately 10 minutes from the nearest road.
“The 17-year old-biker from the Stockton area had badly injured his ankle.
“Six of our team members attended with one of our vehicles.
“The casualty was loaded onto our stretcher and with the assistance of the casualty’s father and a friend, was carried to a waiting ambulance.
“During the carry out, the Great North Air Ambulance became available and the casualty was transferred to the helicopter and taken to James Cook Hospital.”
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