Watson’s Bay e-bike crash: Australian Navy sailor Wade Franks, 28, is fighting for life after mysterious crash while riding an e-bike back to base after a night out in Sydney
E-bike accident in Watson’s Bay: Australian Navy sailor Wade Franks, 28, is fighting for his life after a mysterious crash while riding an e-bike back to base after a night out in Sydney
A Royal Australian Navy sailor is fighting for his life after crashing an e-bike in an exclusive part of Sydney’s eastern suburbs early on Sunday morning.
Wade Franks, 28, is said to have been out with friends and heading to the Navy’s training academy, HMAS Watson, when he lost control of the rented Lime e-bike.
The midshipman was on a steep and winding bend on Old South Head Road near Watson’s Bay around 1:30 a.m. Sunday when the accident happened.
Local couple Brian Monkhouse and his wife Sandy, a trained nurse, heard a loud scraping noise from the road outside their home and went to investigate.
Ms Monkhouse said she “saw something lying in the road” and then realized to her horror that “Oh my God, that’s a person, just motionless,” she said. 9News.
A Royal Australian Navy sailor (pictured on stretcher) is fighting for his life after crashing a Lime e-bike early Sunday morning
Midshipman Wade Franks (pictured) is said to have been out with friends driving to the Navy’s training academy, HMAS Watson, when he lost control of the rented Lime e-bike
They immediately called 000 and did what they could until help, including paramedics, police and a rescue helicopter, arrived.
At one point Mr Monkhouse heard someone say ‘Hello, hello’ and initially thought it was coming from further down the street.
But then he realized it was coming from Mr Franks’ phone, which was perched on the handlebars of his e-bike.
A young woman reportedly spoke to him on the phone.
The severity of Mr Franks’ injuries was revealed during conversations between paramedics who treated him at the scene.
“We need to fix that airway,” an ambulance officer is heard saying.
“You put the ketamine, I’ll put a collar on him,” said another.
Mrs Monkhouse was very concerned for Mr Franks and said: ‘He was very clammy and cool and was rolling in and out of consciousness.’
The sailor was taken to nearby St Vincent’s Hospital with serious head injuries, where he remains in critical condition.
“I hope he’s doing well and I hope these bikes are being monitored more closely,” Ms Monkhouse said.
The bicycle Mr. Franks rode was found lying on the ground early Sunday morning
The sailor was taken to nearby Saint Vincent Hospital with serious head injuries, where he remains in critical condition
Paramedics, police and a rescue helicopter (pictured) arrived on the scene after 000 was called
Mr Franks was treated at the scene (pictured) before being taken to St Vincent’s Hospital
It was reported that a young woman had been on the phone with Mr Franks at the time of the crash
Lime’s rules for using its bikes require riders to be under the legal alcohol limit, wear a helmet and not ride down steep hills.
In a statement, the company said it was “deeply saddened by this incident, and our thoughts are with the rider and the rider’s family at this difficult time.”
‘We are waiting for further information from the police. We know that 99.9 percent of our journeys worldwide end without reported incidents.
“Our commitment to safety remains unwavering and we will continue to communicate non-stop with our riders to encourage safe riding, helmet wearing and proper parking at all of our business locations.”
WHAT IS AN E-BIKE AND WHAT IS THE LIME E-BIKE PROVIDER?
E-bikes are bicycles with battery-powered ‘support’ that comes via pedaling and in some cases the accelerator pedal.
Lime is the longest established e-bike company in Australia and has been operating in Sydney for three years.
In that time, more than 1.5 million rides have been made on the bikes that can be found on city streets, where they have been left by previous customers.
The bikes are unlocked and paid for via a mobile phone app.
Riders do not need a driver’s license, but most are over 18 years old to rent the bike.
Lime (bike pictured) is the longest established e-bike company in Australia and has been operating in Sydney for three years
Users must adhere to the blood alcohol content laws that apply to their driver’s license if they have one (0 or 0.05).
If they are not licensed, they must be 0 alcohol.
By law, riders must use a helmet, either their personal helmet or an attached Lime helmet.
The company says: ‘If you find a vehicle without a helmet and don’t have it with you, we recommend using the app to find another vehicle nearby.’
Source: Lime Sydney And bicycles.com