Mountain biker collides with a speeding antelope

MOUNTAIN biker Evan van der Spuy had a lucky escape when he came off second best in a brush with the South African wildlife during a race through a game reserve this week. The teenager did not come face to face with a fearsome predator of the great plains but was left with whiplash and concussion after a close encounter with a 20-stone antelope.

The 17-year-old cyclist was careering through the Albert Falls Dam reserve in KwaZulu Natal when he was sent flying by an airborne red hartebeest buck that appeared out of nowhere and then collided with him at full pelt.

The spectacular crash was caught on camera by Van der Spuy's team mate Travis Walker who was travelling just behind the unfortunate rider filming the race for the sponsors.

Rather appropriately he can be heard shouting "Holy cow" just after the crash. The YouTube video was watched 2 million times in the two days after it went up.

After appearing alongside the riders the buck appears to try and vault the teenager but ends up crashing into him. The pair both end up in the grass, but the antelope immediately jumps to its feet and runs off leaving Van der Spuy in a heap.

The cyclist's helmet, which was smashed in the collision, saved him from serious injury but he was kept in hospital overnight with whiplash and concussion.

He was lucky to escape relatively unharmed. The animals, which are said to have poor eyesight, can travel at up to 30mph and weigh nearly 25 stone. ·