24 Nov 2017

Cyclists injured in 40-person pile-up

8:23 am on 24 November 2017

Three people remain in hospital following a pile-up of 40 cyclists near the Canterbury town of Leeston.

The pile-up happened when the person at the front the group fell off their bike, causing dozens of others to crash.

Emergency services were called around 7pm yesterday.

Seven people were taken hospital and assessed and four have since been discharged.

St John ambulance spokesperson Bruce Chubb said two of the injured were flown to hospital by helicopter with moderate to serious injuries.

He said no vehicles were involved.

Leeston Cycle Club president Albert Anderson said the main concern at the moment was making sure everyone was okay.

"A lot of people were down on the road, he said.

"It hurts when you're travelling along at 40-odd [kilometres an hour] and you come off your bike."

Mr Anderson said the cyclists in the group were aged 12 and over.

The club would be doing an incident report.