Irish rider taken out by pack of dogs on Middle East training ride
Irishman Ben Keane faces a long road back to fitness after he suffered dreadful injuries when he was knocked off his bike by a pack of dogs near his home in Qatar.
By Brian Canty
An Irish cyclist had a very lucky escape while training near his home in Qatar recently when he was knocked from his bike by a pack of stray dogs and suffered appalling injuries.
Ben Keane, from Clonmel but living in the Gulf for almost 12 years, was out for an early-morning ride when the incident happened.
“I noticed and heard some dogs attacking me from the right,” he recalled.
“I didn't worry as I’ve encountered them in the past and have easily stayed away from them.
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“But as I turned and looked, a fifth dog was right under my front wheel. And before I knew it I was on the ground grimacing in pain.”
Keane knew things were serious when he immediately felt a searing pain in his shoulder.
Luckily, the dogs were warded off by some passers-by but Keane’s troubles were only beginning.
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“I called 999 and the ambulance crew were with me in a flash," he said of the painful aftermath.
“They asked if I could stand but it was impossible. I believed I'd torn my groin muscles on both sides.”
After arriving to hospital he began to learn the full extent of his injuries, which were significant.
“I had about 15 x-rays, an ultrasound and a CT Scan. A double fracture to the collarbone needs to be operated on later.
"I've four broken ribs, four fractures on the pelvis and a collapsed lung.”
He was transferred to the trauma room where he later discovered he would need to spend eight weeks off his feet, sitting in a wheelchair.
He gets around now using a Zimmer frame and a gruelling rehab programme has been laid out before him.
But he’s feeling upbeat about his recovery despite his many injuries.
Grateful for support from family and friends
“I can feel a vast improvement since the accident and I’m sure I’ll be fine in the coming weeks," he said.
“My daughter Lisa travelled from Ireland to be here with me and help me get over it. So I’m very grateful for that, as I am for all the messages of support I’ve received.”
From all at stickybottle we wish Ben a very speedy recovery. He's a regular reader and we're always delighted to keep Irish people abroad up to date with the home scene.
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