Man in critical condition after Akamas quadbike accident

A 31-year-old man was in hospital in critical condition on Friday after crashing his quadbike in Akamas.

The accident happened on Thursday at around 2.45pm when, while driving on a dirt road in the area, he lost control of the bike and crashed into trees, coming to a halt.

As a result of the impact, the 31-year-old was critically injured and taken by ambulance to Paphos general hospital, where he is being kept for treatment.

Polis Chrysochous police are investigating the circumstances of the accident.

The issue of vehicles of this kind being permitted to circulate in the Akamas national park area has been highly contentious following a string of critical accidents, including a fatality.

In August, a quad bike ended up in the sea after plunging off a 90-metre cliff at Baths of Aphrodite, while three years ago a 59-year-old French tourist was killed, and his daughter, aged 20, was seriously injured when their buggy also crashed down a 150-metre cliff and into the sea.

Environmentalists have repeatedly called for such vehicles to be banned from the national park, while those opposed to a ban are calling for the forest roads to be paved and improved for vehicle traffic.