By Paul Verkuylen
Tasmanian locals as well as some of Australia's highest profile cyclists have shown overwhelming generosity for 17-year-old Shamus Liptrot, who is still in the Royal Hobart hospital intensive care unit in a medically induced coma.
Liptrot was involved in an mass pileup during the final lap of the men's C grade scratch race on day one of the Devonport Christmas carnival and sustained a broken leg and arm, three broken ribs and a fractured skull after being thrown over the perimeter fence in the fall.
Liptrot was operated on yesterday to remove a blood clot and relieve the pressure on his brain.
Rallying behind Liptrot, riders and spectators at the carnival have donated over $5000 to the appeal. All the riders racing in the UCI events also pitched in by offering a signed skinsuit which was up for auction for the entire night, eventually fetching over $1000.
The men's C grade field donated the prize money of their scratch race towards the appeal, which also drew donations from South Australian cyclist and this year's Paris-Roubaix winner, Stuart O'Grady. O'Grady recovered from multiple broken bones in a horrific crash during Tour de France in July.
In total the appeal has raised over $15,000, which will go towards medical expenses and travel cost for Liptrot's family who arrived in Launceston yesterday to support their son.
