BMX parents rally for boys injured riding during windstorm

Two young boys ended up with broken bones after part of a tree fell on them while they were riding their BMX bikes in Red Deer.

It happened as Tuesday night’s wicked windstorm was making its impact felt on our city.

Joy Torrejas said her son, Christopher Young,14, and his friend Ethan Glenn,12, were waiting to race at Great West Adventure Park when the wind starting picking up.

“We saw a cloud, it was very fast moving and it was a little windy, but it was a normal day like most of yesterday. Then all of a sudden out of nowhere the wind gusted and it just picked up and it all happened so fast,” said Torrejas.

Young has been competing in BMX since he was seven and does have plans to go back once he heals. The falling tree broke his Humerus, or upper arm.

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Torrejas said the BMX families were so respectful in helping to get the boys off of the track and to the hospital. The exit from the track was blocked by trees which meant both boys with broken bones had to be walked out until a vehicle could access them.

“Some of the parents flattened the branches so he could pass and a couple of moms were helping him move. How many years have I had First Aid and CPR, you’d think I’d know how to react when it’s my own son,” said Torrejas, grateful for the help of the other parents.

Melanie Glenn, Ethan’s mom, said this experience has her son shaken up but he is determined to ride again.

“He’s been riding BMX since he was five and took two years off. Last night was actually his first night back,” said Melanie.

Melanie said that once they walked beyond the trees blocking the road way they still couldn’t wait for the ambulance because it couldn’t get in fast enough. A grandparent of a racer was at the top and said she was a nurse and offered to drive the two moms and sons to the hospital.

“It was amazing and it was eye opening to see how much everybody cares for each other and how much everybody comes together when something like that happens. For as fast as it happened everybody came together so quickly,” said Melanie.

She said Ethan does in fact still want to go back to BMX, but that he is concerned about his friend. Ethan broke his wrist and was casted and able to go home.

Young and Ethan will both recover from their injuries, but both moms said they couldn’t have dealt with the incident without the support of the other families in the BMX community last night.

Torrejas said her son had borrowed a bike for BMX last night and was concerned that he hadn’t returned it. Torrejas reminded him that it was under a tree, and under control.

“When I first got to the ER they had to cut his jersey off and he just said ‘mom, they wrecked my jersey’ and he was looking for his helmet. I told him don’t worry about the helmet, I can buy you a hundred of them, they’re just things.”