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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| North West 200: Spectator Violet McAfee injured in 'freak accident' | North West 200: Spectator Violet McAfee injured in 'freak accident' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The mother of a woman seriously injured while watching the North West 200 motorbike races on Saturday has said it was a "freak accident". | The mother of a woman seriously injured while watching the North West 200 motorbike races on Saturday has said it was a "freak accident". |
| Violet McAfee, 44, was in the garden of a friend's house when three bikes crashed during the opening race. | Violet McAfee, 44, was in the garden of a friend's house when three bikes crashed during the opening race. |
| She was taken to hospital by helicopter. Her condition is stable. | She was taken to hospital by helicopter. Her condition is stable. |
| Two riders were also taken to hospital. One, Stephen Thompson, is also now in a stable condition. The third rider was unhurt. | Two riders were also taken to hospital. One, Stephen Thompson, is also now in a stable condition. The third rider was unhurt. |
| Ms McAfee has now been moved out of intensive care and Mr Thompson has regained consciousness. | |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, Kathleen McAfee described how she first heard news of the accident. | Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, Kathleen McAfee described how she first heard news of the accident. |
| "I was working at the time and I just went to pieces basically, it was so shocking. | "I was working at the time and I just went to pieces basically, it was so shocking. |
| "I just couldn't believe what I was hearing," she said. | "I just couldn't believe what I was hearing," she said. |
| "All I was told was there had been an accident and they were taking her to hospital, people were working on her." | "All I was told was there had been an accident and they were taking her to hospital, people were working on her." |
| Organisers said the incident happened on the section of the course between York Corner and the Mill Road roundabout. | Organisers said the incident happened on the section of the course between York Corner and the Mill Road roundabout. |
| Violet McAfee, who has one son, is still in the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) but is recovering. | Violet McAfee, who has one son, is still in the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) but is recovering. |
| "She is coming on extremely well," said Ms McAfee, "She's still in the ICU but she's beginning to respond because they are reducing her sedation a bit. | "She is coming on extremely well," said Ms McAfee, "She's still in the ICU but she's beginning to respond because they are reducing her sedation a bit. |
| "I visited her yesterday and I called her by name and she jumped, opened her eyes and closed them again." | "I visited her yesterday and I called her by name and she jumped, opened her eyes and closed them again." |
| 'Freak accident' | 'Freak accident' |
| When asked whether or not something could have been done to prevent the accident, Kathleen McAfee said she believed it was an accident. | When asked whether or not something could have been done to prevent the accident, Kathleen McAfee said she believed it was an accident. |
| "Unless you're going to put up wire fencing at everyone's house, but would they want that? | "Unless you're going to put up wire fencing at everyone's house, but would they want that? |
| "This is just an accident. Will it ever happen again? I don't know. It's a freak accident." | "This is just an accident. Will it ever happen again? I don't know. It's a freak accident." |
| She added that prayers said for her daughter had been of great comfort to her. | She added that prayers said for her daughter had been of great comfort to her. |
| "There's been a lot of prayer for my daughter and the other rider and I know the power of prayer. | "There's been a lot of prayer for my daughter and the other rider and I know the power of prayer. |
| "It's a great comfort. I am a Christian so I do know the power of prayer." | "It's a great comfort. I am a Christian so I do know the power of prayer." |
| Adrian Moir had been watching the race a short distance from the crash scene. He said the crash was in the most frightening incident he had witnessed in his time as a motorsport spectator. | Adrian Moir had been watching the race a short distance from the crash scene. He said the crash was in the most frightening incident he had witnessed in his time as a motorsport spectator. |
| "I've been following road racing and going to the North West for years and I've never seen anything quite as dangerous happening as close to me," he said. | "I've been following road racing and going to the North West for years and I've never seen anything quite as dangerous happening as close to me," he said. |
| "We were standing on scaffolding in a garden close by, the crash just happened in front of us in a matter of seconds. | "We were standing on scaffolding in a garden close by, the crash just happened in front of us in a matter of seconds. |
| "You do worry for your own safety. You don't go to watch road racing for the crashing but it is part and parcel of the sport." | "You do worry for your own safety. You don't go to watch road racing for the crashing but it is part and parcel of the sport." |