Two people receive specialist care after TT crash
Two spectators attending the opening day of the Isle of Man TT festival have been airlifted to the UK for specialist medical treatment following a crash involving a competitor who collided with the crowd.
Event organisers confirmed that six other spectators and the motorbike racer involved have since been discharged from hospital.
The incident occurred on the TT's first practice day at approximately 13:50 BST on Sunday, at the exit to Parliament Square in Ramsey.
In response to the crash, TT organisers announced that spectators would be prohibited from the viewing area at Parliament Square for the remainder of the 2026 event as a precautionary measure.
In an official statement, organisers cited the "unusual nature of the incident" as the reason for this decision, which followed an initial assessment by race, safety, and operational personnel.
This action underscores the event organisers' commitment to continuously reviewing and addressing safety concerns whenever incidents occur.
The opening practice session of the 2026 event was red flagged after the crash on the northern section of the 37.7-mile (60km) Mountain Course, resulting in the cancellation of the rest of the day's schedule.
'Very best care'
Teresa Cope, CEO of Manx Care, spoke to Manx Radio Motorsport regarding the incident, expressing sympathy for those affected.
"Our thoughts and best wishes are with all of the people who were involved in yesterday's incident and those who witnessed it," she said.
"It is one of those elements of racing but equally when you're faced with something like that it is difficult, so we do not underestimate the impact of that."
Manx Care had deployed extensive medical professionals at Noble's Hospital and collaborated with partners including the island's ambulance service, the Great North Air Ambulance Service, and Manx Roadracing Medical Services.
Cope stated that these services had performed an "exceptional job" in preparing hospital teams to respond effectively to the incident and provide the "very best care to those involved."
She further explained that following all serious crashes, the teams conduct immediate debriefs to understand lessons learned and incorporate them into future planning.
"We hope it never happens, but this is what we plan for," she added.
The Isle of Man TT, which is run on closed public roads, plans to resume qualifying later, with the festival scheduled to continue until 6 June.
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