A triathlete is warning other cyclists to take care after being knocked off her bike by a kangaroo in the Adelaide Hills. The woman suffered serious shoulder and chest injuries when she was hit by the animal that jumped from a ridge above a popular cycling route.
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00:00 Cyclist Liz Stavreski is carrying the scars of an unlucky encounter with a kangaroo.
00:07 Multiple rib fractures, sort of permeated lung, crushed collarbone that had to be plated and put together back with some screws and 10 days in hospital.
00:17 The 49-year-old triathlete was doing a morning training with friends when she was struck by a roo coming down Norton Summit Road at Taringi.
00:25 A kangaroo just dived out in front of me on my front wheel so there was no opportunity to stop or brake. I pretty much sort of came off the bike from the impact.
00:38 With Liz at the back of the group no one saw her fall as she travelled at about 40km an hour.
00:44 I realised at that point I was in very big trouble because I just was in agonising pain and I knew I was broken.
00:52 Despite her extensive injuries Liz crawled to the side of the road. A passing motorist then stopped to help and Liz was taken by ambulance to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. That was three months ago.
01:03 Some people call it a freak accident for me and my timing was terrible clearly but it's important for people to be aware that there is kangaroos active on that section of road.
01:15 Bicycle SA says while kangaroo crashes are rare there are regular reports by cyclists of near misses and roos aren't the only wildlife that pose a risk.
01:26 There's everything from kangaroos to koalas and even up sort of around Eagle on the Hill there's deer out there.
01:33 Brett Gillette says as the weather improves and more cyclists hit the roads it's important for people to take extra care.
01:40 It's about not being complacent and understanding that we are the vulnerable road users on the road.
01:45 So far this year three cyclists have died in accidents in South Australia and on average 9,000 cyclists each year are hospitalised in Australia.
01:54 Australia.
01:54 [BLANK_AUDIO]