‘I’m in trouble’: Local mountain biker speaks out about brutal accident

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — Mike Bourget was mountain biking in the Lunch Loops trail system, something he has been doing for nearly 20 years, but one fateful day in early June led to an injury that required him to be airlifted from the trails. "I came off the bike and planted my left foot down between a rock and the ground and my foot stopped and my body kept going," said Bourget. "When I looked and saw my foot sideways, I knew I wasn't getting out of there on my own." The first thought through his mind? "I'm in trouble," he said. That's when another biker came to the rescue. "He came along about 20 minutes later, somebody I didn't know, from another direction. I know him now, his name's Travis, he was an awesome help," Bourget said Travis stayed with Mike while first responders came to help, with Mike eventually being airlifted off the trail. Mike's wife, Paulette Bourget, felt helpless in the situation and is thankful Travis was there when he was. "I didn't know where he was and I couldn't help him," Paulette said. Mike added, "What if Travis didn't come along? I could have been a mountain lion dinner or something, because I wasn't going to be able to move." Bourget faces a long recovery. He cannot walk on the leg for at least six weeks, and may face physical therapy once he can walk. But once he can, it is right back to the trails. "Oh no, I'll still be doing pretty much the same thing. I'll definitely have my phone with me and pay more attention on hot, dry days," Bourget said. If he were to say one thing to those who helped him on the trails? "Oh, just big hugs and thank you. Glad to know you. Keep up the good work. Just great, great people."