About 100 motorbike enthusiasts have been left high and dry after a highly anticipated off-road desert racing event in regional WA was cancelled.
Organisers of the Gascoyne Dash, an annual event held on a circuit near Carnarvon around 900 kilometres north of Perth, said they had to cancel at the last minute because the local hospital was at capacity.
However, 22 cars were allowed to proceed with the Sunday afternoon program, after hours of uncertainty.
No-one was admitted to hospital from that event.
The Gascoyne Dash runs for three days with a mixture of motorcycle and car events over various terrains.
The cancellation was a shock for 21-year-old Riley Fletcher, who had travelled from Perth for the race.
Riley Fletcher at the Gascoyne Dash. (Supplied: Riley Fletcher)
“It was disappointing, but there was nothing the event organisers could do,” he said.
“It takes a lot of time, money and effort to get the bikes ready to race, and we will have to wait until October to compete in the next desert race.”
Caroline O’Meagher, whose teenage sons were due to compete in the bike race, said she was furious when she heard the news.
Caroline O’Meagher and her family were left disappointed after the event was cancelled last-minute. (Supplied: Caroline O’Meagher)
“It was around $10,000 for us to get the bikes prepared for a desert race alone, before adding the cost of fuel to travel over 1,000km,”
she said.
“People might start asking, ‘Is it worth risking all that money if the same happens again next year?'”
The WA premier has insisted WACHS did not ask the event organisers to cancel. (Supplied: Gascoyne Dash)
Event director Ben Broeder said the cancellation was “fairly disappointing” and a “big blow” for the organisers and committee.
He said while the event had its own medical team, which included paramedics and helicopters, there ultimately was not enough space at the hospital.
“The risk for the event is if we can’t then forward those patients to a hospital for further care, we can’t guarantee the safety and ongoing health for those competitors,” he said.
Seven competitors presented to the emergency department on Saturday, which Mr Broeder said was “not out of line” with other motor events of a similar scale and size.
WA Country Health Service (WACHS) said organisers had claimed they expected zero injuries from the event and the Carnarvon Health Campus was fully staffed.
The three-day event attracts visitors from across the state. (Supplied: Gascoyne Dash)
“Any decision to cancel or alter the program of the Gascoyne Dash event was not made or recommended by WACHS,” a spokesperson for the department said.
“In addition to normal Saturday load, 12 casualties were admitted over a five-hour period, with some requiring evacuation to the Royal Perth Hospital Trauma Unit.
“Casualty numbers from the Gascoyne Dash were serious and unprecedented, with staff at Carnarvon Health Campus responding remarkably throughout the day and overnight.“
Organisers hope the cancellation does not deter competitors from returning to future events. (Supplied: Gascoyne Dash)
WACHS confirmed it had also deployed two teams via charter from other parts of the state to prevent staff fatigue in order to provide safe care to the Carnarvon community.
‘Big increase’ in casualties
Premier Roger Cook backed WACHS’s claim it had not asked Gascoyne Dash organisers to cancel the motorbike race.
“The 12 people coming to a small regional hospital over a 24 hour period, it would obviously put that hospital under pressure,” Mr Cook said.
“We don’t want those injuries to put local health services or other services under pressure.
“But no request was put in by the WA Country Health Service to cancel that event.“
The ABC understands WA Police had contacted WorkSafe WA to request the event be shut down.
In a response, WA Police said it assisted the WA Country Health Service in a support capacity, but the off-road racing event was not a police matter.
When asked about police requests to WorkSafe, WA Police Minister Reece Whitby said he had not been briefed on the situation, but maintained Carnarvon hospital “responded appropriately”.
“The event resulted in a big increase in casualties coming through the door,” he said.
“I think it’s about planning and communication between event organisers and if we can learn a lesson in the future then that’s a good thing.”
Questions in parliament
The Gascoyne Dash has run in the region for more than 20 years. (Supplied: Gascoyne Dash)
Mid-West MP Shane Love said he would be demanding answers from WA’s Health Minister about why the hospital was not able to deal with the patients from the event.
“We do need to get to the bottom of it because we want to see events like the Gascoyne Dash go forward in the future because they’re vital,” he said.
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