A busy Moray road was yesterday closed as an ambulance helicopter was scrambled to deal with a medical emergency.
The aircraft landed on the B9040, between Hopeman and Lossiemouth, to offer its highly-skilled medics swift access to a casualty.
It’s understood the cyclist was on the cycle path by the side of the road when they took unwell.
Police shut the road to motorists shortly before 11.30am to allow medical teams to work at the scene.
And after treatment at the roadside, the cyclist was taken by road ambulance to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
The exact nature of their condition is unknown.
The incident brought the surrounding area to a standstill for a short time, with golfers at the nearby Hopeman Golf Club halting play as the helicopter swooped-in to land close to the links.
The road closure forced diversions to be temporarily put in place, with motorists diverted along back roads to Roseisle or taking a different route from Duffus.
It reopened within the hour.
A police spokeswoman confirmed yesterday that officers had been called to scene following initial reports of a road accident.
She said: “It initially came into us as a road traffic incident but it turned out to be a medical matter instead.
“We remained on scene and the road was re-opened after about 45 minutes.”
The cycle path by the side of the road between Hopeman and Lossiemouth is popular with local cyclists and visitors alike, particularly in summer months.
The stretch has also gained a bad reputation for speeding drivers, who often clock up over 100 miles an hour going from village to village.
Locals have lodged numerous complaints to police about motorists exceeding the speed limit there.
