Family campaign for track safety after ‘avoidable’ and tragic death

THE family of a dale farmer who tragically died in a motocross accident have vowed to campaign in his name for safer practice tracks.

Thomas Brown, from Marwood, was killed in a crash at a motocross event near Low Hardwick Farm at Sedgefield on April 30. The 27-year-old suffered a broken collarbone, nine broken ribs and a punctured lung.

Despite the efforts of the Great North Air Ambulance Service team, the motocross enthusiast was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Mr Brown’s family understand that motocross can be a dangerous sport but they believe that the medical cover on the track the day Thomas died was minimal. They are increasingly led to believe that had paramedics been on hand, Thomas’ life could have been saved but they have since learned this is not a legal requirement. Thomas’s sister, Eleanor, said: “Thomas’ injuries were not life-threatening. Unfortunately one of the ribs had punctured his lung. It is serious but had there been paramedics there the outcome would have been very different.

“There is no legal obligation for paramedics to be at a practise track. There was just one first aider present. In a situation like that it is all about time. Had there been a paramedic there and they had realised the severity of his injuries they would have phoned for the air ambulance straight away. Every minute counts and if there had been a paramedic there, Thomas would probably still be here today.”

In the months following his death, Mr Brown’s family, with the support of many friends, have been campaigning for “Tom’s Law”. They hope to raise awareness of practise track safety and encourage track owners to take more responsibility with the presence of medics and equipment.

Mr Brown had been passionate about the sport since the age of seven, spending most weekends practising or attending events as far away as Belgium. The Thomas Brown Memorial and Safety Campaign committee was formed to help keep his legacy alive. So far, more than £7,000 has been raised which helped to fund a memorial weekend earlier this month.

Cumbria MX’s Haverigg practice track was revamped and renamed Route 44 Thomas Brown The People’s Track. Ex-British and GP racer Alfie Smith designed the new track while machinery from Thor Atkinson, Thomas’s last employer, was used to move mountains of track dirt. The new-look site, which took two weeks to rebuild, is said to draw comparisons to the iconic Belgian track Lommel.

The official opening played host to more than 200 riders and 300 spectators for the Thomas Brown Weekend Memorial Meeting on September 16 and 17.

Ms Brown said: “This was the last place that Thomas won his class and it was one of his favourites. On a weekend from being kids we would follow Thomas round and we would camp there too. It seemed quite fitting to hold the memorial weekend there.

They have made the track a bit more fun so hopefully people will keep coming to use it. It will forever be Route 44 which was Thomas’ number.”

Aside from the track races which saw Thomas’ bikes complete a lap of honour, a special party was held. Money was raised from charity waxing done by one of Thomas’ friends Becky Fell from Serene Spa. An auction raised £3,300 and a raffle raised a further £1,500.

Ms Brown said: “We had a fantastic weekend but Thomas should have been there partying with us. The support from everyone was unbelievable. Thomas would have loved it. As a family it has hit us hard but it has hit the motocross world hard too and they don’t want to forget him.”

The family hope to make the weekend an annual event as well as forming an official charity. Ms Brown said: “This weekend was for fun but we want to move forward and campaign for safer practise tracks. We want to make sure something like this does not happen again.

“We need these places to have paramedics. We want to try and approach the tracks that don’t have paramedics.

“There is always going to be people who don’t want to run their tracks that way because of the costs so we want to educate the riders about their own safety too. We are not trying to say that there will not be accidents. We just want the right people to be there when they do happen.”

Since the accident, donations totalling £2,149.66 have also been given to the Great North Air Ambulance Service in Thomas’ memory.