Man ripped from bike by barbed wire trap 'targeting lockdown cyclists'

A cyclist was wrenched from his bike after riding head-first into a barbed wire booby trap.

The sick trap was deliberately placed at head height to maim and possibly blind bikers using the popular trail during lockdown.

Neil Nunnerley, 47, was left with blood gushing from his mouth and injuries to his face and chest after hitting the trap at 15mph.

The barrier was made of wire and branches and stretched across the trail in woodland near to Taff’s Well Quarry in south Wales.

Similar wood and wire traps have been found blocking paths in Swansea and Cardiff over the weekend, as people flocked to public places to enjoy the warm weather.

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After going to A&E and reporting it to the police, Neil went back to the scene with an officer, but the trap had been removed.

Neil was told the person who set the trap may have been close-by and may have even been watching.

He said: ‘The trap was set across the track with woven branches within it that were fixed horizontally. It wasn’t until I saw the branch I realised it was a trap.

‘One of the branches struck me and got lodged in my mouth whilst the wire caught my chest and the lower of my neck. I was pulled from my bike and fell backwards striking my head on the floor. Thankfully, my helmet saved me.’

Neil rode home, washed his wounds and then sought medical attention.

He said: ‘I was more than hesitant to go to the hospital in fear of the virus and the current situation we find ourselves in.

‘My wife called the out-of-hours surgery who forwarded her to the hospital. The hospital assured us that A&E is a safe zone and that I should attend.

‘My injuries include bruising to my chest and neck and a swollen mouth with three stitches.

‘Although my injuries are minor this could have been a lot worse,’ he added.

Neil has been riding in the area for over 30 years but has never seen something like this before.

He added: ‘There are many footpaths in this area and the bikers tend not to ride in those areas, there have been reports of motorbikes riding in the woods but again they tend to ride away from the bikers and walkers.

‘Lots of walkers have been complaining about both bikes and motorbikes that are riding in the woods, but both sets of riders have done this for many, many years.

‘Due to what is happening in the world today, more and more people are out walking for exercise than ever before. Dare I say it, but these people may have not frequented this area prior to lockdown and are now shouting at the people who use this area for biking.’

Neil said he was ‘mending quickly’ and had been for a quick ride on Monday. He said he ‘isn’t against walkers’ as he walks his dogs in the area himself, but added: ‘Frustrations are high at the moment and people just need to get along, we all need to release our energy and get the exercise where and when we can’.

A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: ‘The incident was reported to police at around 5pm on May 23. Officers attended the scene with the cyclist and no wire could be found on the trees or any others nearby.

‘Understandably, some time had passed between the incident and the matter being reported due to the cyclist seeking medical attention at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff.

‘Anyone with information is asked to please contact South Wales Police on 101, quoting occurrence number *178556.’

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