Commonwealth Games cycling has been suspended after a crash in the velodrome saw Oldham’s Matt Walls fly into the crowd.
The crash during a qualifying phase of the men’s scratch, happened on Sunday morning at the Lee Valley VeloPark.
Matt Walls rode his bike over the barrier through the crowd of spectators, which included children.
Screens were placed in the area of the stands in which Walls was treated.
Walls received treatment for more than 40 minutes before being taken away in an ambulance, with spectators also injured after he and his bike went over the barriers at the high edge of the corner.
The England team said in an update: “Matt is alert and talking, as he has been throughout, and is receiving medical attention in hospital.” lower on the rim, but on the way up, clipped another wheel and went over.
Matthew Bostock from the Isle of Man was taken away on a stretcher.
A member of the crowd has been taken away in a wheelchair covered in blood.
British Cycling said: “Following an accident in the men’s scratch, Matt Walls and Matt Bostock are being treated by medics before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
“We send our best wishes to the drivers and spectators involved in the incident, and will provide a further update when we can.”
Press Association reporter Ian Parker tweeted afterwards: “This is the scariest thing I’ve ever seen in a velodrome.”
The England team said in a tweet that “Matt Wall has been taken to hospital for precautionary checks”.
They later added: “Matt is alert and talking, as he has been throughout, and receiving medical attention at the hospital.”
Witnesses said that because of the unevenness of the banking, spectators in the front row had not been seen by the accident.
The rest of the morning session at the velodrome was canceled and spectators were asked to leave while Walls was attended to by medical staff.
Two other riders, Matt Bostock from the Isle of Man and Derek Gee from Canada, were also taken to hospital, while two spectators were treated for minor injuries in the velodrome.
Walls had tried to avoid riders who had fallen in an incident that began at the entrance to the bend. The stricken pair of New Zealand’s George Jackson and Australia’s Josh Duffy were sliding down the bank, forcing Walls to climb the barrier and then over it.
Gee also sailed over the top of the barrier but managed to avoid following Walls into the stand, although he then fell heavily once again on the bench.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Birmingham 2022 said: “Following an accident in the morning track and para track cycling session at Lee Valley VeloPark, three cyclists and two spectators have been treated by the on-site medical team.
“The three cyclists have been taken to hospital. The two spectators did not require hospital treatment…
“We would like to send our best wishes to the cyclists and spectators involved in this incident and thank the medical team for their swift action.”
Canadian Mathias Guillemette was disqualified from the race for causing the initial crash.
Granada Reports spoke to Matt Walls last week ahead of the start of the Commonwealth Games