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The 'despicable act' that almost decapitated dirt bike rider


A shaken-up Queensland dirt bike rider has told of how close he came to being decapitated after a wire at head height was stretched across the off-road track where he was riding.

Ben Bird was riding in Amamoor, in Queensland’s Gympie region on Monday when he fortunately noticed the piece of metal.

“Almost had my last ride this afternoon thanks to whoever put this up along the road,” he wrote on Facebook.

“Anyone thinking of going for a ride in Amamoor anytime soon – watch out!”

Dirt bike rider Ben Bird claims he found a wire on a track in Gympie, Queensland. He believes it was placed there to take out fellow riders. Source: Facebook/ Ben Bird
Dirt bike rider Ben Bird claims he found a wire on a track in Gympie, Queensland. He believes it was placed there to take out fellow riders. Source: Facebook/ Ben Bird

He told Yahoo7 the wire actually knocked him off his bike.

“Luckily, I was going slow because I’d just pulled out my back gate,” he said.

“It’s just shocking. I’ve seen stuff like this before on Facebook but never thought I’d come across someone doing this.

“Someone out there’s twisted.”

Mr Bird took the wire down. He said a lot of people use the track. Source: Supplied
Mr Bird took the wire down. He said a lot of people use the track. Source: Supplied

Mr Bird added he’s taken the wire down as “lots of people use the track”.

His post has been shared more than 6,100 times with many mortified.

“This will give me nightmares for the rest of my life,” one woman wrote.

Others said the find was “absolutely despicable”, “unbelievable” and “f******”.

One woman suggested someone might have put the wire up to protect their property.

Mr Bird believes Monday’s ride could have been his last if he hit the wire. Source: Facebook/ Ben Bird
Mr Bird believes Monday’s ride could have been his last if he hit the wire. Source: Facebook/ Ben Bird

“All the person is trying to is protect what’s theirs or someone else’s property,” she wrote.

“To many like to trespass on property and destroy their fields, pasture etc.”

However, one man suggested a fence or a sign would be more appropriate.

“Impossible to see a wire at neck height,” he wrote.

“This will give me nightmares for the rest of my life,” one woman wrote about the wire.

Cyclists and disputes over the use of Australia’s roads have made the headlines on several occasions in 2019.

On Tuesday, a driver stuck behind a group of cyclists in Fremantle made a costly error trying to get past them after accidentally crashing into a garbage truck.

Last week, footage of two cyclists not using a bike lane in NSW went viral. The driver was filmed motoring down the bike lane and abusing them.

It was later revealed the pair on the bikes were off-duty police officers.

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