Oban motorcycle star John McPhee has avoided serious injury after a high-impact crash during a race in Australia.
The 22-year-old was thrown off his bike and slid along the track as others continued racing – with one competitor hitting him.
He was rushed to hospital with those witnessing the crash assuming his injuries would be serious, if not life-threatening.
But amazingly, Mr McPhee came out of the Moto3 Grand Prix in Melbourne with just a broken thumb and some bruising.
Yesterday, his parents Alasdair and Maggie from Connel, near Oban, took the first available flight to Australia to be with their son.
Updating his official Facebook page from his hospital bed, Mr McPhee wrote: “Reading through all the messages of support from everyone and can’t thank you all enough!!
“I’m feeling okay, bit stiff all over as expected but ill be here in Melbourne for the next week or so as I’ve got a little damage to my lungs so need to keep an eye on them before I fly.
“Hoping to have my thumb operated on in the next couple of days then be back to full fitness asap. Big thanks to all the medical staff at PI circuit, Clinica mobile, my team and of course Knox SCORPION SPORTS EUROPE IXS Sports and Alpinestars for keeping me safe and away from too much damage.”
The crash occurred just five laps into the race and there was shock among the participants as they saw Mr McPhee lying prone at the circuit.
He regained consciousness shortly afterwards and doctors discovered he had only suffered a broken thumb and bruising.
At home in Connel yesterday, his sister Diane, who saw the footage of Sunday’s crash, said yesterday: “It was horrendous to watch. We didn’t really know very much because of the time difference, it is difficult to get hold of him.
“My mum and dad are on their way out. They left at 3am, that was the first flight they could get.
“He has damaged his lungs so he can’t fly at the moment, we are waiting to find out more from the doctors.”
A spokesman for McPhee’s Peugeot MC Saxoprint team said: “He’s in the hospital for checks. He has pains everywhere.”
Mr McPhee will now miss the Malaysian Grand Prix in one week.
After qualifying for fourth position but starting from seventh spot on the grid due to a penalty on Saturday, he got a brilliant start and was able to set a blistering pace during the opening laps.
The Oban man was involved in a great battle for the leading position before he crashed at Lukey Heights on lap six.
The race was stopped by red flags immediately. Two other riders involved in the accident escaped unhurt.
Mr McPhee initially received treatment trackside before he was transported to the medical center at the Phillip Island circuit where the doctors diagnosed a slight concussion and a broken thumb on his left hand.
Following the first examination he was lifted to the St Kilda Alfred Hospital in Melbourne for further checks.
