Rescued biker's sister praises police (From York Press)

Rescued biker's sister praises police

5:50pm Tuesday 18th September 2012 in News By Dan Bean & Mike Laycock

THE sister of a motorcyclist, who was found alive after lying for almost three days in a water-filled ditch, has praised the actions of Humberside Police.

40-year-old Anthony Margrave survived a collision with a metal signpost and travelled about 200 metres along the road, before he came to rest in a ditch, hidden from view.

Humberside Police launched a missing person inquiry after Mr Margrave failed to turn up for work, and after two full days of searching rivers, reservoirs, fields, houses and gardens, found some debris, believed to be from a motorcycle, last Thursday, close to the junction of Selby Road and Reed Holme Lane on the A614, north of Thorne.

Mr Margrave was found 6ft down a ditch, lying in water, conscious and breathing.

His sister Sharon said he was suffering from hypothermia when she saw him at Doncaster Royal Infirmary on Friday evening, but deteriorated quickly, and other ailments have since been identified.

She said: “He’s not out of the woods. At that time we knew he had two broken ribs.

“Now we know he has pneumonia, a fractured spine, and has been on a breathing machine and heavily sedated. He’s also had a trachaeotomy yesterday, and is breathing on his own but with aid, and can now feel his legs again. Doctors don’t yet know whether he’ll be able to walk.”

Sharon said she was contacted by Anthony’s girlfriend Katie Bridgeford after he did not return from a ride on his new Yamaha bike on Tuesday, and contacted police when he failed to return or go to work.

Sharon said: “Humberside Police have been absolutely fantastic. Straight away, they used helicopter search teams and never gave up at all, even when they thought they were looking for a body. It was horrendous, we didn’t eat or sleep for days, and every time the phone rang we thought it was bad news.

“We’re fighting to be by his bedside and keep teasing him. He’s still fighting and has his sense of humour. He was laughing and smiling at peoples’ jokes, when we told him when he gets out of hospital, we’re going to kick any bit of him that wasn’t broken.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist officers should contact South Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 438 of the September 14.