Biker left with smashed bones and internal bleeding after pothole caused Highlands crash
A Scots biker was left suffering from internal bleeding and a smashed kneecap after a horror head-on collision with a car in the Highlands.
Roy Rodger, 72, had been riding his bike when it hit a pothole on the road near Tomintoul. It caused the biker to smash into an oncoming car after he caught the pothole while navigating a bend.
Roy's body smashed into the headlight, front bumper, wheel and mudguard of the vehicle - throwing him back across the road broken and semi-conscious.
Recalling the horror accident, Roy said: 'I vaguely remember lying in the road, trying to sit up and take my helmet off – before everything went black. As I drifted in and out of consciousness, I felt myself being carried on a stretcher – and then nothing more.'
Emergency services, including Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) were raced to the horror crash.
Roy was airlifted to the Major Trauma Centre at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in a 40 minute journey – less than half the time it would take by road.
There, Roy was given special permission to bend 2020 Covid restriction rules and see his wife, Jan, before he was taken to theatre.
Jan and Roy's brother William were left to fill in the blanks for Roy as the fight for his life unfolded at the roadside.
Roy said: 'My brother phoned Jan to tell her what had happened but as she arrived at the accident scene, SCAA had already been and was lifting off again.
"They moved so fast – I believe that speed helped save my life.'
Roy's catalogue of injuries included internal bleeding, a double break in his lower leg, a broken pelvis and ripped tendons resulting in a floating kneecap – injuries that resulted in lengthy operations to insert pins and plates.
Now almost fully recovered, albeit nursing a permanent limp, Roy reflected on the vital role SCAA played in his chain of survival.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
He said: 'The way I am able to get about and the life I lead now is undoubtedly due to SCAA.
'I was bleeding and broken – obviously seriously injured – and I dread to think what would have happened if SCAA hadn't been there so qui c kly.
'They were more than life-saving – they gave me a quality of life that I wouldn't have had without their speedy arrival at the scene and rapid airlift to hospital care.
'I never, ever imagined I would need the help of an air ambulance – no one does. You never consider the men and women who crew these helicopters or the thousands of supporters who keep their life-saving service in the air – until it happens to you.
'SCAA is a vital lifeline for those ill or injured in remote locations – such as motorcyclists out for a day's ride – and I'll be grateful to them for the rest of my life. They lessened the horror of a day that could have been my last.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Daily Record
Teachers need protecting from violence with attacks on rise by children
The Scottish Government's annual crime survey showed 31 per cent of violent crimes are carried by under-16s. No one deserves to be assaulted at their place of work. But for teachers, it's becoming a daily concern in some schools. At a time when violence in society is in long-term decline, one-in-three violent offences in Scotland is now committed by children – with attacks on teachers blamed for the massive rise. A quarter of all violent offences are carried out by children against adults in their place of work – with teacher assaults understood to be the majority of these incidents. It can't be repeated too many times that the majority of pupils are hard-working, polite and want to enjoy their time at school. But there remains a minority who seem to revel in the fact that discipline in some classrooms – such as the threat of exclusion – has been removed almost entirely. Many parents will be left scratching their heads over a policy which allows regular troublemakers to avoid consequences. For many years, well-meaning government ministers and local council education chiefs were tied to the mantra of 'inclusiveness'. This misguided policy made it almost impossible to exclude the worst-behaved children. On paper this might have sounded like a good idea. But in the real world it gave a free pass for bad behaviour. It is teachers and well-behaved pupils who are left to deal with the inevitable breakdown in school discipline. If some pupils are repeatedly violent, they must be removed from the classroom for the benefit of others. Classrooms can't be run for the benefit of the worst behaved. Teachers and parents understand. So why doesn't the government? Poverty gamble Gordon Brown's record as chancellor in cutting poverty was second to none. Children and pensioner incomes were boosted and lives were transformed under the last Labour government. But much of that good work was undone by heartless Tory administrations from 2010 onwards. More than 4.5million children are living in poverty in the UK and the numbers are projected to go up. Keir Starmer wants to cut child poverty but he is hamstrung by a lack of money. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Brown's suggestion today that the Government take kids out of poverty by tackling the obscene profits of the gambling industry is positive. Many people like a flutter but gambling firm profits are also based on misery. Oil and gas firms pay a super tax in recognition of the damage done by their industry. Taxing gambling firms more to scrap the two child tax is a cause everyone should back.
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Scots forensics teams working furiously round-the-clock to narrow in on warring gangsters
It's added to the workload of crime scene experts who helped gather evidence for the forthcoming prosecutions expected to go through court GANG WAR CRACKDOWN Scots forensics teams working furiously round-the-clock to narrow in on warring gangsters FORENSIC teams are working round-the-clock on the orders of Scotland's top law chief to deal with the number of cases linked to Scotland's raging gangland turf war, we can reveal. The details emerged in a report placed before a police watchdog about the 55 arrests made so far by cops involved in Operation Portaledge. Advertisement 3 Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC ordered an all out effort to crack down on Scotland's warring hoods Credit: Alamy 3 Property has been attacked during the heated gang war 3 Ross 'Miami' McGill is said to have ordered a spate of attacks across central Scotland Credit: Collect It's added to the workload of crime scene experts who helped gather evidence for the forthcoming prosecutions expected to go through court. Fiona Douglas, director of forensic services, told the Scottish Police Authority they were working overtime to process the evidence quicker at the request of the Lord Advocate. Officers have nicked dozens of suspects since a gang war erupted in March, with Dubai-based hood Ross 'Miami' McGill, 31, said to have ordered the carnage. Cops have had to investigate a wave of firebombings, machete attacks and murder bids on associates of caged Edinburgh cocaine kingpin Mark Richardson, 38, and his allies in Glasgow's notorious Daniel crew. Advertisement The report reads: 'Forensic Services is working closely with Police Scotland and COPFS colleagues to support Operation Portaledge which is the investigation into organised gang violence in the East and West of Scotland. 'Fifty-five arrests have been made and the specialist forensic support provided by Forensic Services has made a significant contribution to many of these. 'Within Forensic Services this work has consisted of more than 91 cases with more than 227 individual packages of work which are being undertaken across disciplines involving many staff.' Ms Douglas goes on to explain the need for urgency in dealing with the wave of cases with Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC stepping in to press home the point. Advertisement She wrote: 'At the request of the Lord Advocate these cases are being expedited to ensure that intelligence and evidential reports are provided at the earliest opportunity. 'In order to support this important operation, further overtime is being worked across the relevant teams however there will inevitably be an impact on some of the routine casework being undertaken within the service. 'Managers will continue to liaise with Police Scotland and COPFS colleagues to ensure that this does not impact on high priority casework and discussions will continue within the Forensic Performance Operational Group.' The issue will be discussed at the SPA meeting tomorrow. Advertisement We told this week how ex-Union Bear McGill, of East Kilbride, is being backed in his gangland turf war by top mob boss Jamie 'Iceman' Stevenson. McGill has got the 'full protection' of feared criminals linked to the caged 60-year-old cocaine kingpin. A source said: 'McGill follows instructions via associates of Stevenson, who is still pulling the strings.' The chaos was triggered by a fake cash scam involving cocaine that belonged to jailed godfather Stevenson. Advertisement A wave of violence erupted across the Central Belt in March after dealers stung the mob supremo's rising star McGill with £500,000 in counterfeit notes. Cops have so far arrested 55 suspects as part of the Operation Portaledge crackdown on the worst explosion of gangland violence in years. But tensions between rival groups escalated further after the murders of Lyons gang chiefs Ross Monaghan, 43, and Eddie Lyons Jnr, 46, on May 31 in Fuengirola, Spain. Scots cops at first dismissed a link to their arch enemies the Daniels but Spanish authorities insisted the double killing is linked to a decades-long conflict between the crime crews. Advertisement Michael Riley, 44, of Liverpool, is in custody facing extradition to Spain charged with the murders.
Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Top female BBC star at centre of 'nude scandal' after showing X-rated pic to junior colleague
The unnamed BBC star, who allegedly showed the unsolicited nude snap to a junior colleague, is said to be one of the highest earners in the Beeb this year. A well known female star on the BBC has reportedly been involved in a shocking scandal after allegedly showing an unsolicited nude snap to a junior colleague which comes as the latest controversy under the broadcaster's watch. According to The Sun, the presenter, who has not yet been named, is said to be a high earner in the company and ranked in the Corporation's top 50 highest paid this year. The unnamed star allegedly showed a graphic image of a nude man's genitals on her phone during a conversation about personal preferences, leaving the recipient 'completely horrified". The identity of the male in the snap remains unknown but insiders claim the interaction was intended as 'jokey, locker-room banter". However, the situation took an uncomfortable turn and is said to have left the junior staff member in tears. A source described the scandal as a "ticking time bomb". They warned: 'As soon as the name of this woman - and details of her bad behaviour - are unleashed, it will derail entire departments and mark the first female to be formally swept up into the BBC's wrongdoing roll call. "The woman asked the young producer if she liked 'd*** pics' and then showed her a picture on her mobile phone. "It was meant to be jokey, locker-room type banter, but the woman was completely horrified and cried about it. 'No one minds a bit of office banter, but this was on another level. She felt like it was an intentionally shocking move to intimidate, veiled as a joke. It was way too much. 'The woman had to apologise to the girl. It's double standards, but somehow a woman being involved in showing d**k pics feels much more offensive than a male. "The release of her name would be seismic.' This would mark the first time a female BBC star has been swept into the broadcaster's growing list of controversies. The alleged incident adds to the BBC's growing pile of scandals with the Beeb still recovering from heavily reported misconduct claims involving other high-profile stars. These include MasterChef hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode, who were recently axed following an investigation into their behaviour behind the scenes. Earlier this year, former newsreader Huw Edwards admitted to multiple charges relating to indecent images and was handed a suspended prison sentence. The BBC responded to the latest scandal by saying: "While we do not comment on individual cases, we take all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Even flagship shows such as Strictly Come Dancing have not escaped scrutiny. The BBC dance show faced a major shake up after allegations against ex-professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima were raised, both of whom have now been replaced. Earlier this year, former BBC radio host Russell Brand was also charged with rape, indecent assault and sexual assault between 1999 and 2005. This triggered a wider inquiry into institutional safeguarding failures during his time with the broadcaster in the 2000s. All of these scandals, which span across news, entertainment, and reality formats, have prompted repeated calls for reform, with critics calling for greater transparency and accountability from the publicly funded media giant.
