On Air Now

Stuart Clarkson

8:00am - Noon

Now Playing

Mr Mister

Kyrie

Family says 'protect the face, not just the head' after serious cycle crash

Harry was in hospital after his fall

A local family is thanking the community for the quick help and support after their son's serious fall at the Burley Pump Track.

The crash left 14-year-old Harry Croft with a fractured jaw in three places, the loss of eight teeth, and various cuts. 

Doctors say it would have been a very different outcome if he didn’t have a helmet on, and Harry’s family is urging others to choose proper head protection moving forword.

Clare Readshaw, Harry’s mother, shared that Wednesday was one of the hardest days they’ve faced and its not how she expected the first week of the school holidays to be, but she is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from friends, strangers, and other parents.

“I’m extremely proud of Harry. You amaze me beyond belief,”

Clare said, highlighting the immediate help from other mums, friends, and the wider community who offered support.

Harry is now back home and recovering. The incident underscores the importance of helmet safety for riders at active recreation sites. Doctors noted that the outcome could have been very different without a helmet, reinforcing a clear message from the family: full-face helmets are the right choice for young riders and others at risk of head injuries.

Claire added:

"We’ve quite a road ahead, but with the people we have in our lives we know we’ve got this!"

The family have produced the poster below to warn others.

More from Local news