Manchester cyclist almost garrotted by booby trap

A man from Stretford has been left with severe neck injuries after cycling into a wire purposely tied between two trees at head height. Adam Hoult fell from his bike and blacked out after being caught by the wire in Stretford Meadows just after 4.45pm on Sunday.

Police investigating the incident describe it as a “premeditated act.” Hoult was travelling at around 20mph when he collided with the wire and the Manchester Evening News reports that he was left with severe cuts and burns around the front and side of his neck.

Hoult had been cycling on one of the paths in Stretford Meadows when he collided with a length of green plastic coated wiring tied between two trees.

“As I hit it, one end came loose from one of the trees and clotheslined me, and wrapped around my neck twice,” he said. “I blacked out but came round seconds later. I was struggling to breathe and trying to get it off me.”

Speaking about his injuries, he said: “I went to hospital and they said I was lucky as it nearly crushed my oesophagus. I think if I was a skinny lad it would’ve taken my head off.”

He added: “It’s really painful, I can’t sleep and I have a sore throat and can barely swallow. It will definitely leave a big scar. I cycle round there a lot, and usually have my two-year-old with me. It’s a really popular route with cyclists and horse riders, and is right next to school.”

Hoult gave the wire, which was around 20ft long, to police and they are now investigating.

Detective Inspector Carl Gilbert, of Greater Manchester Police’s Trafford borough, said:

“This was a premeditated act on a man who was simply going out on his bike. It has left the victim with some nasty cuts to his neck and he’s lucky that the injuries were not more serious.

“It happened on a popular walking route at a busy time of the day and we would like to appeal to anyone who may have been in the area at the time and seen anything that can help us with our investigation to come forward.”

Last month, a woman cycling through Hyde Park suffered a rope burn to her neck and was almost knocked off when she rode into a rope strung across a path, while in May police received three calls in two days about wires strung at neck height across the Brynmenyn cycle path near Bridgend.