How a retired nurse and local resident stepped in to help during a shocking TT incident
When a competitor lost control during the 2026 Isle of Man TT opening practice session, crashing into a crowd of spectators near Albert Square in Ramsey, it marked one of the most frightening moments in recent festival history. Muriel Kelly, a retired nurse who has called the TT course home for four decades, found herself at the centre of the chaos — and her quick thinking and medical expertise would prove invaluable in the moments that followed.
The incident occurred around 1:50pm on Monday at the exit to Parliament Square, just before the incline onto the Mountain Road. The impact left nine people injured — the rider and eight spectators — with the scale of the emergency becoming immediately apparent as panic rippled through the packed crowd. "It was just chaos," Kelly recalled. "I've never seen anybody go into a group of spectators like that. It was terrifying really."
Without hesitation, Kelly approached a marshal and offered her help. She was quickly directed to the casualties, where she joined two other off-duty nurses — holidaymakers from England who had also stepped forward to assist. "There were three casualties on the ground as I went over, so I took the third casualty," she explained, noting that among the injured was a family who had been watching together. Her decades of nursing experience and presence of mind helped stabilise those in her care during those critical early moments.
While Kelly praised the swift arrival and professionalism of emergency services, describing the police and paramedics as "fantastic," the emotional toll of the incident lingered long after the scene was cleared. "Every time I closed my eyes and tried to go to sleep at night I just kept seeing it all again," she said. However, there is positive news on the recovery front: six spectators and the competitor have now been discharged from hospital, though two people remain in specialist care in the UK.
In response to the incident, event organisers have taken immediate precautionary measures. The Albert Square viewing area has been closed to spectators for the remainder of the festival, restricting access to a popular vantage point. The Isle of Man Constabulary is investigating the crash and has appealed for witnesses to upload photographs and video footage to a secure portal. Despite the shock, Kelly remains philosophical about the TT itself, believing the incident was an anomaly rather than a sign of systemic danger. "I think this was a fluke," she said.
Source: Read full article on ManxRadio