WEST HILLS, Calif. (BRAIN) — Longtime cycling industry photographer Chris Hatounian was severely injured in a mountain bike accident last month while riding at Mt. Pinos, just north of Los Angeles.
According to industry consultant Brian Hemsworth, who was riding with him at the time, Hatounian sustained significant injuries, including a punctured lung, five broken ribs, a cracked sternum, and a torn rotator cuff.
"Chris was ahead of us, and when we came around the corner, Chris was down," said Hemsworth. "Chris was conscious, but not very responsive, and his breathing was very labored. We checked his limbs and torso and couldn't find any breaks or obvious injuries, but his breaths were short and inconsistent, so we were pretty sure there was some chest and lung injuries."
"We had radios, but the distance to the shuttle cars was too far, so we sent a rider for help, and others stayed with him," Hemsworth continued. "We carefully got him from the trail to a nearby road, where we put him in a van, and rendezvoused with the EMTs. They took over from there."
Hatounian was later transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital where he spent the better part of a week in intensive care, and was transferred to the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Woodland Hills.
Cycling journalist and friend Dan Koeppel has started a GoFundMe campaign to help Hatounian and his family with expenses not covered by insurance during his convalescence. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/MTBchris.
