Race to save crash biker

A SERIOUSLY injured biker owes his life to emergency teams who worked at speed to free him from under the wreckage of a car.

Firefighters from Bexhill and Hastings improvised at the horrific scene of Wednesday evening's Little Common Road collision.

The main road was closed for four hours and diversions set up.

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Crews used hydraulic spreaders normally employed to force wreckage apart as a jack. In combination with pneumatic airbags, this quickly raised the Austin Maestro.

The car was secured on wooden ramps while a SIMCAS emergency doctor and Sussex Ambulance paramedics attended to the motorcycle rider.

The 26-year-old, from Hastings, and his 20-year-old female pillion passenger were taken by ambulance to the Conquest Hospital.

Sussex Police said the rider had suffered multiple injuries. The woman was later released from hospital.

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The Maestro driver, a 50-year-old Bexhill woman, suffered severe shock.

Witnesses, including anyone who may have seen a second motorcycle, are asked to contact Sgt Nial Moloney on 0845 6070999.

At the scene, Sub Officer George Wippich said: "We had a report of a motorcyclist trapped under a vehicle.

"On arrival, our immediate priority in consultation with the ambulance crew was to raise the vehicle and assess the situation.

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"We realised early on that a time-critical rescue needed to be carried out.

"The crews worked quickly to raise the vehicle using air-bags. We put the hydraulic spreaders in and used them like a jack.

"Luckily, the rider was wearing full leathers. His helmet was still on. But he was trapped under the front axle and gearbox."

The accident occurred at about 6.10pm on the westbound side of Little Common Road just west of its junction with Sutherland Avenue.

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The A259 trunk road was closed for four hours while a police accident investigation team examined the scene. Traffic jams swiftly developed as westbound traffic was diverted up West Down Road.

The Honda CVR motorcycle ended up on the eastbound carriageway ahead of the car, which was badly damaged at the rear.

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