Media Reports and Tributes to Nigel
Susan / 22.09.2004
It’s been more than a day since Nigel Aylott was killed at the Subaru Primal Quest in Washington State in the U.S. The details surrounding the accident that claimed his life are now slowly trickling in as local media outlets have been reporting on the accident all day.They are reporting that Aylott and his team, Team AROC from Australia, were leading the race when the accident occurred. Along with the American team Montrail they were making a 400-foot descent below a ridge called Illabot Peak.
According to a local Skagit County sheriff, one of the racers (who was not identified) felt the boulder (unconfirmed reports said it weighed 300 pounds) dislodge as he made the descent. The other racers were able to dodge the boulder. Aylott was not.
(Note: All initial media reports claimed the teams were using a rope to descend, but the race organizers have since said this was not the case.)
The 38 year-old was killed when the massive rock hit him in the head. Fellow Australian, Montrail’s John Jacoby was also injured and airlifted off the mountain, then driven to Skagit Valley Hospital, where a leg injury was treated. Jacoby was released from the hospital today, according to the sheriff.
Race organizers promptly stopped the race and shuttled all racers to Rockport, Washington. At this hour, race management is meeting with an understandably upset field of adventure racers. According to media reports, Team AROC and Aylott’s family have requested that the race be finished. Race organizers say they will not have a decision on the future of this year’s race until 6pm PST (2AM GMT, 9PM EST)
