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Cycling senior airlifted after tire bursts

82-year-old sustains head injuries in South Surrey, after speeding downhill without a helmet.
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A 76-year-old man is listed in critical condition after falling from his bike when it blew a tire near 184 Street and 32 Avenue early Tuesday morning.

The man, originally described as an 82 year-old by Surrey RCMP, was airlifted to Royal Columbian Hospital shortly after the accident and was still in the intensive care unit at press time Wednesday.

Police said the accident occurred around 7 a.m. and traffic was reduced to one lane only in the vicinity for two hours afterwards.

“The cyclist was not hit,” said Cpl. Barb Creighton, adding the man, who sustained head injuries, had not been wearing a cycling helmet. “He was out biking at a high rate of speed, downhill, when his front tire blew.”

Creighton said the man was projected over the handlebars and landed headfirst on the ground.

“It’s the law to wear helmets, and it’s for cyclists’ safety,” she said. “A lot of people don’t wear helmets, but this is a good example of why they should.”