Two freestyle mountain bikers, Adolf Silva and Emil Johansson, were airlifted to hospital after major crashes at the Red Bull Rampage event in Zion National Park, Utah. Silva, a Spaniard, attempted a double backflip during his second run at the free ride event, one of the biggest in the world. However, he crashed partway through the move, landing hard on his head and rolling down the rock face. Crowds surrounded him, and he was loaded onto a stretcher before a rescue helicopter airlifted him to hospital. The incident occurred shortly before 1 pm on Sunday, and Red Bull USA reported that Silva was 'alert, conscious, and talking to his loved ones' around half an hour after his transfer away from the scene of the accident. There was a break in competition before the remaining riders resumed their second runs. Silva had crashed earlier in his first run but appeared unhurt and was able to finish. He posted an update to social media on Monday evening, confirming he had a 'lower back injury' and thanking well-wishers for their support. Johansson, a Swedish rider, also crashed down a sheer cliff face after attempting a tailwhip early in his run. The competition was paused again for medical crews to extricate him from an inaccessible position on the ridge line. Johansson wrote on social media that he suffered a big dislocation of his right hip, which was successfully popped back in at the hospital. He will likely need surgery to clean the socket from bone pieces, but he is otherwise unscratched. The Red Bull Rampage is renowned for its unforgiving terrain and the extreme difficulty of the riders' tricks and jumps.
