Florian Nicolai dislocated his shoulder in a crash in Southern France. He was riding and testing with his teammate Hattie Harnden and their mechanic Andy Lund when he lost his front wheel in a corner and hit the ground hard.
They didn't have a phone with them, so they waited until their coach arrived and could call for help. He went to the hospital by helicopter.
Florian says he has a dislocated shoulder but luckily no broken bones. He is anticipating spending 15-20 days with his arm immobilized, then at least a month in physiotherapy before he's back up to speed.
We hope his recovery goes smoothly and look forward to seeing him back on the bike.
Maybe on another day it would have different. No judgement toward Florian at all.
But every dislocation is different. He might have a separation of some fork or they were worried about a concussion or something. Generally when you lose your front wheel in a turn and smack hard enough to pop a shoulder you're head hits the ground too. Considering who he is and the nature... they were likely being extra careful. The look on his face doesn't look all there so it's possible he did ring his bell.
I'll give the dude the benefit of the doubt. These athletes are pretty damned tough. Get better Flo.
Sure, it certainly works better than in some other places, but it's not the utopia some people in the US portray it to be. And please, combine that with our taxation levels....
Apparently Florian was in "the worst pain he ever felt" for quite some time and a lot of the trails around here are very remote, so the helicopter was just for safety. It doesn't make it onto the front page, but the poor guy seems to break or sprain something almost every off season, which makes his race consistency all the more impressive.
I would say drugs or helicopter flight but both is too much!
Some years ago I had a dislocated shoulder in Les Gets and I don't know anything of my rescue flight!
But the drugs were nice. Propofol I think.
Couple hours with that pain probably sucked. I was fortunate to have lots of bourbon handy.
Don't you get healthcare regardless of employment status? So if you're unemployed is it not free? Someone else is paying for it.
I think the thought process is pretty simple... you don't directly pay for medical care. You pay taxes which feed into the medical system that you take advantage of. Since you're not directly paying for it... it's free.
Be happy you don't live in the nazi state of California where we pay insane amount of taxes and inflated insurance premiums. 30% of my paycheck is gone before I get it. So it's heavily taxed. Then you pay taxes when you spend it... so taxed twice. Between the 30% tax and then my insurance premiums for dental, vision and general health care I'm paying roughly %57 of my pay check to taxes/insurance... plus the 10% sales tax when I spend it. So in reality... somewhere around 62% of my income goes to taxes (only counting spending outside of regular bills)
In canada the average family tax rate is somewhere around 24%.
So tell me again who's healthcare is free?
My point was that our health care is not free, because it isn't. I'm sick of hippys saying it is.
The torn AC joint on the other shoulder *should* have gone under the knife.
Better have some good health insurance, however
I'm not sure whether other states do something similar, but it's a good solution for folks who are in the wilderness pretty often. And the money goes toward the Search and Rescue Fund regardless, so it's a good cause as well as cheap insurance.
Don't just hate on America because it's the cool thing to do these days unless you have a valid point otherwise you sound uninformed and foolish.
I'm glad he got quick care, not a slight on him at all - but can't picture a situation where a heli would be called for a non-emergency situation in the US. Like I said, the best we'd generally get is a EMT crew to stabilize and walk / drive you out if needed.
Flight rescue is NOT common for non-life threatening injuries with a stable subject that can walk.
It was regretful to suggest that anyone get injured to test the system. I hope my remark was only taken with the sarcasm intended. I hope nobody ever has a reason to summon help. Cheers, Bart.
I am doing a 10 day remote motorcycle ride in Idaho later this year and will have that PLB turned on every day!
Circling back to why you disparage the US SAR network. I assume you have a reason.
He has no idea what he's talking about.
Saying "free" I'm sure you understand what I mean! You don't pay a bill directly.
Using a road is free (OK haigway aren't) electricity in the street is free, school is free, firemen's services are free...
Mountain rescue (except on the ski slopes) is free for user, it's a public service and the cost is borne by the community.
I don't know if it's a good/bad thing, if it's better or worst elsewhere, that's just how is works in France
This guy needs oxygen and a airlift at half my age? Is it the French, the younger soft hand generation or PHKN SOY, ahh never mind. they get all butt hurt over this old guy comments. That is all this old man huckster can say.
My old man separated his shoulder skiing and sat there for like 5 hours because powder day and my brother and I are dicjs. Then I drove him nearly 3 hours to the hospital. And then he denied surgery. Lol.
I get it, I don't like to accept help myself, it feels embarrassing. But given the kid is a pro and his body is literally his livelihood, it'd probably be really foolish for them not to go overkill on his injury,
all "champs" ride for the bankaccount and with a big safetynet madeup of insurance and better medical services than the rest of us mortals. these "champs" are salesmen and they get paid when injured while on duty.