Not a new topic as it was posted elsewhere on this site.  

German cyclist taken to hospital after collapsing in northern Thailand - Chiang Rai Forum - Thailand Visa Forum by Thai Visa

The name of the German cyclist is Klaus.  He is out of the hospital and recovering at his home in Chiang Rai.  Here is what he wrote about the incident.

 

Hi, I'm Klaus, the rider you have seen lay down on the picture above and got help.

First and foremost i thank everyone very much who helped to save successful my live. Thank you so much. Sadly i don't know the soldier, who (at least it was told) did heaviest job to bring me back to live. My chest is blue and red and makes me a now the most pain. But you know how much better it is to feel pain rather don't feel nothing because you leaved the world. Thanks again for the whole team, which saved my live!!!!!

To be honest, i don't remember my morning this day and don't remember the start of the race. At this place i usually see a lot of friends and we have nice greetings and ridings.

I don't count anymore how many times i went up this road, Usually 3 to 4 times in the year sometimes more. Once when i got my Visa in Germany a had to go to Mae Sai for 90 Days border crossing . Because it was to boring only cycling the highway from Chiang Rai to Mae Sai, usually i went away from the highway up To Doi Tung , further to the arboretum and maybe 300 m after that is the border soldier camp (Doi Chang Mub). To be honest i did'nt like to take a bus or taxi and even not my own car to go to Mae Sai.

The military border point allows you to make photos with the great view to the Burmes (Myanmar) Mountains and you can order different kinds of coffees from mountain range. At my next visit the soldier ask if my way is again to Mae Sai over this very natural und nice road just at the burmesian border, down to Mae Sai. By the way, when ever you come to this area, there is a very nice Akha(?) village with a growing number of coffee shops and coffee plantations, The name of the village is Pa HI) It's around 3 kilometer after the border control post and you have to pass on this border road two military control post with "Schlagbaum" 3 km after the 1 control post (coming from Doi Tung) is a nice Akha Village with different coffee shops. At least the most of them will give you a breathtaking view. This is now not secret tip anymore, because people from the whole country going there. It's still possible to find a nice coffee shop restaurant with great mountain view. Don't miss it.

So what i really want to tell you, i like cycling in the mountains many times not only in the past but hopefully still many years in the future. But of course now more carefully. I went many times up to Doi Tung and further to Doi Chang Mub (place with the great border view. close to the arboretum.

I cycled up to Doi Mae Salong. Unlike aDoi Tung You hardly find another cyclist up or down there, because too much up and downs and not only for cyclist strong ascending. I made it once up to Doi Inthanon (2565m) with bicyle of course. Sometimes very steep i went up cycling with friends to Doi Chang or alone. I understand, when i go cycling in the mountains in the future, i will for sure watch more what my body tells me, but i can't stop cycling mountains.
That's only a smart part of my cycling story, but enough to understand i'm not a newbie. For the future i have to explore how far i can go with my two stents.

With this story i want to let you know what kind of cyclist i am. Not to tell you how great im in cycling. There are so many great cyclist in Thailand with exceptional skills. But you know i did many times mountain trips with success. No i have to hear on my body, what kind of trips he will allow me in the future.

Thank you again to all who did care for me after this happens. First thanks to all the staff, who helped at the accident place. thank you to all my friends who visited and helped me in the hospital, all the hospital personal involved in my case, and all other who cared for me, in their comment or in their mind.

I'm ready for the next 30 years of cycling, even i might slow down a little bit. But this is something to decide from case to case.
BTW. other than the source 77kaoded told, i live not in the Mae Chan area but in Chiang Rai.
Greeting an thank you to all who were involved in my case .

A last word, I leaved the hospital in Chiang rai today and i'm now strong enough to recover at home. BTW. chest pain is much more better than no pain, because you know you are still on this beautiful world and stay still with all the people you want to share time with them.
A great time for all,
Klaus

Would be good to know whether he ignored warning signs, if so what were they? underlying conditions? or just undiagnosed, if so could happen to any of us. 

 

The post above doesn't give us any details apart from he used to like cycling hills and wasn't a beginner

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Would be good to know whether he ignored warning signs, if so what were they? underlying conditions? or just undiagnosed, if so could happen to any of us. 

 

The post above doesn't give us any details apart from he used to like cycling hills and wasn't a beginner

Right.  Obviously he had some underlying conditions.  Not sure if he was aware of them or not.  

32 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

Right.  Obviously he had some underlying conditions.  Not sure if he was aware of them or not.  

I know very fit 60-80yo cyclists, cycle 4+ times a week, average 80km, I'm wondering if you would class himself as one of those

39 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I know very fit 60-80yo cyclists, cycle 4+ times a week, average 80km, I'm wondering if you would class himself as one of those

I don't know him so I can't say.  He kind of sounds like it.

Sounds like he would prefer to die pushing himself up a mountain than wasting away in a nursing home.

Klaus, hope you recover and get back on the bike soon!

 

For all of the armchair critics: his underlying health is no concern of ours. I am sure he was aware of personal and environmental factors up to the point where he unfortunately found the limit! Luckily he is still with us.

 

ID: carrying some information with basic details [in Thai] is a good idea: [Note to self!]. Notwithstanding, even if carrying a lexicon of personal details after event registration, it would be normal for any medically trained responder to ask basic questions to ascertain a level of concious state. Eg: "open your eyes/ squeeze my hand/ what's your name [!!!]/ where do you live? etc. Perhaps that may the context in which it was reported.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, bobfish said:

 

For all of the armchair critics: his underlying health is no concern of ours.

It would have been useful info, maybe saved a life of similar riders, oh well, we learn nothing from this

2 hours ago, bobfish said:

ID: carrying some information with basic details [in Thai] is a good idea: [Note to self!]. Notwithstanding, even if carrying a lexicon of personal details after event registration, it would be normal for any medically trained responder to ask basic questions to ascertain a level of concious state. Eg: "open your eyes/ squeeze my hand/ what's your name [!!!]/ where do you live? etc. Perhaps that may the context in which it was reported.

You expect Thai ambulance drivers to speak English?

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

It would have been useful info, maybe saved a life of similar riders, oh well, we learn nothing from this

Perhaps that kind of information is readily available and common knowledge. Never too young to learn right? ????

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You expect Thai ambulance drivers to speak English?

Not necessarily, but maybe "sabai di mai?" could also elicit a response.

 

However. In this case and as reported: "They managed to resuscitate him and he was able to tell them that his name was Mr Klaus J.P. and had been living in the Mae Jan area for 7 years." Of course he could have told them in Thai. Or German.... 

 

9 hours ago, bobfish said:

Perhaps that kind of information is readily available and common knowledge. Never too young to learn right? ????

Not about the man's experience. You cycle much? 

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not about the man's experience. You cycle much? 

Yes

Prior to re-starting cycling after over 20 years off the bike I went for a full cardio check, which I repeated a year later.

 

I’ve also, like many, bought and use a heart monitor, I chose Polar on account of the accuracy and reliability of the HR monitor and I have that set with an alarm if I reach my peak HR (which I have on occasion passed).

 

I have had one episode in which I believe my HR monitor may have saved my life.

 

30 minutes into a ride my HR passed my maximum and the stayed high even when I rested.

 

I went directly to the hospital for a check up which revealed my heart was healthy but my electrolytes were well below normal. The Dr nevertheless said my heart could have failed if I had continued exercising during this episode.

 

My advice then is get a heart health check up, buy and use a good quality HR monitor, set your high HR limit and pay attention to you HR during rides.

 

Oh, and drink sufficient water and electrolytes.

 

 

On 5/10/2021 at 8:28 PM, Chomper Higgot said:

...

Oh, and drink sufficient water and electrolytes.

 

Salty Bob put salt in his beer