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You may think it's traumatic to plow into a deer on Highway 20, but Tim Gorman has experienced worse: The Grass Valley resident was attacked by a bull while riding a motorcycle in the Australian Outback.
Earlier this summer Gorman was riding his BMW motorcycle on a 2,044-mile journey from Melbourne to Calvert Hills - more than the distance between New York and Dallas - when he came across a bull, which would not get off the road. Without much warning, it turned around, lowered its head and charged.
Earlier this summer Gorman was riding his BMW motorcycle on a 2,044-mile journey from Melbourne to Calvert Hills - more than the distance between New York and Dallas - when he came across a bull, which would not get off the road. Without much warning, it turned around, lowered its head and charged.
"He hit me in the front of the motorcycle but he also hit my leg," Gorman said this week. "When he hit me, he had so much momentum, he kept tripping over the bike, which was now on its side with me under it.
"His whole 2,000 pound body went right over my head. It was at that point, I thought I was going to die."
"His whole 2,000 pound body went right over my head. It was at that point, I thought I was going to die."
The bull tried to pin Gorman to the ground with its head. When Gorman managed to get halfway to his feet, the beast put its head under his rear and flung him through the air "like a ball, almost 20 feet."
"I landed on my face with my hands in front of me," Gorman said. "It knocked the face-plate off the helmet."
"I landed on my face with my hands in front of me," Gorman said. "It knocked the face-plate off the helmet."
Gorman managed to scramble to the nearest tree with the bull chasing him. He climbed the tree as fast as he could, and waited until the bull was gone.
He rode his battered bike to Calvert Hills in north central Australia to his friend's ranch. There he was treated by the ranch manager who provided first aid. Two weeks later, Gorman drove down the same route and stopped to visit a hospital for further treatment.
He rode his battered bike to Calvert Hills in north central Australia to his friend's ranch. There he was treated by the ranch manager who provided first aid. Two weeks later, Gorman drove down the same route and stopped to visit a hospital for further treatment.
Last month, Gorman returned to Grass Valley from his Australian journey and has been telling his ordeal to friends, relatives and neighbors. His experience also was published in an Australian newspaper.
In retrospect, Gorman said, the reason for his narrow escape from death was his wish to stay alive."There was no fear but I was certainly shocked after it happened," Gorman said. "And once it happened, my whole mindset was (focused on) survival."
In retrospect, Gorman said, the reason for his narrow escape from death was his wish to stay alive."There was no fear but I was certainly shocked after it happened," Gorman said. "And once it happened, my whole mindset was (focused on) survival."
