Impala rams rider
13/10/2008 09:15 - (SA)

Wilhelm de Swardt, Beeld

Parys - An impala ram caused a stir on Saturday in the Free State during the Ride Crater Cruise mountain bike race when he knocked down one of SA's top women riders.

Yolandi du Toit, who rides for the professional Garmin team, was leading the women's race when she suddenly saw movement from the corner of her eye.

The next moment she was in excruciating pain. Then everything became black.

"The first time that I again was aware of anything, was when I woke up in a hospital bed."

According to her she had been unconscious for almost five hours. Fortunately none of her legs are broken. Du Toit said she still had no idea what had happened. According to her, she had heard from her friends and father that a buck had knocked her off her bike.

Her father, Francois du Toit, who was riding a short distance behind his daughter, said he also didn't see what had happened.

Freak accident

"I suddenly saw Yolandi lying next to the road and her team mates applying first aid. The way I understand it, there were a heard of buck on one side of the path."

"It is suspected that one buck was cut off from the herd due to the bike race."

"It's an absolute freak accident. I have taken part in many mountain bike races and nothing like this has ever happened."

Game expert Lukas Fick, said it was the first time that he heard of something like this.

"I don't doubt that the buck acted purely on instinct. If I listen to how it is being described, I would say it was more like panic."

"With the riders who kept riding between him and the rest of the herd, he was probably standing in the bushes and getting jittery."

"With every second, the buck became more panicky until his fear got the upper hand."

"He probably took a leap blindly. Unfortunately, he didn't jump high enough and hit a rider."

Fick said an impala could jump over a car with ease.

- Beeld