Two freestyle mountain bikers were airlifted to hospital following serious crashes at the Red Bull Rampage event near Zion National Park, Utah. The competition, known for its extreme terrain and high-risk tricks, was paused twice as medical crews attended to the injured riders.
Spanish rider Adolf Silva crashed while attempting a double backflip on a steep downhill section. He landed hard on his head and rolled down the rock face. Silva was airlifted shortly before 1pm on Sunday. Red Bull USA reported he was 'alert, conscious and talking to his loved ones' about 30 minutes after being transferred. In a social media update on Monday, Silva confirmed a lower back injury and thanked supporters.
Later on Sunday, Swedish rider Emil Johansson was also airlifted after crashing down a sheer cliff face early in his run. The competition was paused again to extricate him from an inaccessible ridge. Johansson posted on social media that he suffered a 'big dislocation of my right hip' which was reset at hospital, but he may need surgery to clean bone fragments from the socket. He added that he was otherwise 'pretty much unscratched'.
Silva had crashed earlier in his first run but appeared unhurt and finished. The event resumed after each incident. The Red Bull Rampage is renowned for its unforgiving terrain and the extreme difficulty of riders' tricks and jumps.
