turning a blind eye

[badger]

I was thinking this morning how when I crashed on my bike some time ago on a bike path, nobody bothered to stop. Nobody even asked me if I was ok, even though there were people riding past me in both directions (I had an audience when it happened).

I wasn't badly hurt, but I did have a bloody knee and thought I may have busted it. My bike was scratched up a bit, and my handlebar was twisted.

If you see someone who's crashed, would you not at the very least stop to inquire they're ok, rather than turning a blind eye and just going about your business?

[beccaB]

Yes, I would stop. I can't imagine people just going about their business. That is surreal. Like you're not even there. Weird.

[artifactos]

I've even stopped during the bike leg on a triathlon to ask someone if they need help with a flat tire or something. I can't imagine not stopping to see if you're okay and/or if you need help getting moving again.

The bystander effect just sucks.

[Chile Pepper]

Totally would stop. When I crashed, a couple of cars stopped to ask if I needed a lift. I didn't need help (I had called my husband--thank goodness for cell phones, I say), but it was nice of people to stop and ask.

[Lesley_x]

It hasn't happened but I like to think I would stop and help.

[PamNY]

I always check on anybody who goes down, unless there's already a crowd around them. I've never seen anybody fall without someone offering help.

I'm so sorry that happened to you. What sort of situation were you in?

[JennK13]

Wow! That's actually kind of sad. If I see someone on the side of the road/trail off their bike, I always ask if they're okay or need anything - you never know if they fell before you got there and just got up or what.
Like Artifactos, I even stopped and asked a gal if she needed help with her flat at my mtb race Sunday. I guess I believe in karma - so I'm giving it away any time I can.

[badger]

yeah, I though it was sad, too. That not one single rider stopped to see if I was ok or needed help. I guess it's unusual to see anyone helping, because I once saw a cyclist on the side of the road, bent over. I stopped to see if he was ok; his chain broke. CAA (Canadian version of AA) now has bicycle help so I offered him mine, to which he was so grateful but declined. He thanked me profusely, though. Another time, I saw a guy on a skateboard wipe out. I asked if he was ok, and he seemed stunned I asked; he thanked me.

Pam: It was actually a shared pathway (not-so-busy side street that's designated as a bike route). It zig-zags at one point as the road kind of breaks. I was sticking my left arm out to indicate I'm turning, and then there was a narrow pothole that my front tire went into. Obviously with my one arm I couldn't control my bike so I went over the handlebar. Thankfully I wasn't going too fast as I was turning, so damage wasn't too bad.

[Red Rock]

I had to respond...

Once I was changing a tire on what was my new mtb but turned commuter. As I was trying to figure everything out and to start changing things, it seemed to take forever. There were something like five to six cyclists that saw me, were busy talking and enjoying their ride. They passed me on the other side of the road. None of them said anything, not even a "hi how are you doing?" It was like there was this invisble line that they did not cross. Ever since that experience, It have thought twice about it.

When I first started riding about 5-6 years ago, I was on my ride and totally enjoying being free and happy. Then all of a sudden I hear this pop and I look back at my rear tire and its going flat!! I thought oh no, I do not even have the basic tools with me to change any of this. So , thankfully, there was a couple from back East that were on vacation (They have a house here.) They stopped and helped me change my tire, pump me up, and get back on my way. Man, was I so thankful to them.

Between these expereriences, I'll take the second and not the first. I beleieve in at least asking someone if they are ok and then proceeding with my ride.

Red Rock

[pll]

If you see someone who's crashed, would you not at the very least stop to inquire they're ok, rather than turning a blind eye and just going about your business?

Yes, I would and I have. But when I first started riding, I fell on a road and a car that was behind me pulled next to me, the guy looked at me (I was trying to clean the road rash in my knee and lower leg with water) and sped away without saying anything. That bothered me...

[Owlie]

I at least slow down and ask if they need help. People on the trail back home do the same thing. I'll be stopped for no "good" reason (usually to grab a snack) and people ask if I'm okay and need anything.

I once fell on some ice and went over the bars...I think. I was fine, just a little shaken and scraped up. An older guy (turns out he'd just moved up from Texas) stopped, asked if I was okay, and helped me get the chain back on the bike.
Now that I think about it, the only ones who don't at least ask if I need help are the guys about my age who are off in their own little world of speed...Maybe it's a regional thing?

[Desert Tortoise]

Badger, sorry to hear this happened to you.

When I see someone on the side of the road I've stopped to help and once they even took me up on it. Once there was a guy on the side but he had his cell phone out and was talking on it so I didn't ask. Figured he either had to talk on the phone or had some kind of help worked out. Maybe I shouldn't assume that?

Your unfortunate incident did get me thinking about something else too. There were 2 separate instances (both happened to be right in front of our national park entrance) where each was an obvious bad crash. Not only were people standing around but in one police was there and the other a park ranger.

What got me thinking was if an official is not there but people are, maybe I should stop to check anyway. Just because people are around doesn't mean they are doing anything. Or have I watched too much 20/20 What would you do programs?

Not trying to be funny, just thinking.

[spokewench]

If I see a cyclist or even someone else fall or have a mechanical, I always make sure I ask if they need help. I have changed many a man's flat when they did not have the materials needed, nor the mechanical knowledge to fix it either. Although, since I never had Campy it was an experience to try to figure out how to get the brakes to release from their tight position once! Finally figured it out, however. Thank god

I would always check on someone who looks like they might be hurt or I had seen fall.

I figure if I don't do this, then what are the chances that when I need help that I will get help

Hopefully, my karma will work out okay.

Sorry to hear no one stopped for you. People are so self absorbed in this day and age. That the kindest way I can put it

[Aquila]

I've stopped more than once. Once it was important, because the person who crashed had hurt her ankle. My friend walked her and her bike to the nearest road while I rode back as fast as I could and got my car so we could give her a ride.

Other times, folks haven't needed help. But everyone's been friendly and seemed happy to be asked. And I've been happy to be asked, too, on occasion (stopped for water or something).

[Tri Girl]

blind eye turners suck!:mad:

I always ask people on the side of the road/trail if they need help with a flat, even if I can see they have the things they need. Just in case.

I once needed help (my CO2 inflator wouldn't work and I couldn't pump my tire). Not one of the dozen or so people who passed me said anything. I eventually walked my bike 5 miles back to my car. :(

I would most definitely stop if someone had crashed. I stopped once during a tri to help someone who had crashed badly. Screw the race- it's more important to be a human being.

[badger]

I think a lot of people just don't want to get involved.

But, on the flip side, I did read something today that renewed my hope in helping one another:

I saw letters of commendation for 2 civilians who went above and beyond anyone's expectations in helping a motorist who had a cardiac arrest and crashed into a pole. The crash exposed live wires, but these 2 individuals did compressions and the other guy even had his own defibrillator (he's apparently a life guard/ski patrol). If nothing was done until help arrived, the motorist would most likely have died.

[soprano]

Out in the rural areas, I stop. When I've been on tour by myself and stopped to rest or eat, other cyclists *always* stopped. It's a great way to meet people :)

I have yet to come across an injured and alone cyclist, thank goodness.

Riding for transportation here in town, I don't always stop when I see someone with mechanical trouble. There are 6 bike shops along my 5 mile commute. We have a good bus system and cab service. Cyclists who can't or don't feel like doing the repair on the spot have multiple options to get where they are going; most of the university students aren't going very far in any case. If the stopped cyclist looks upset, I stop and see if I can help. However, if he or she looks calm and is walking with purpose, I figure that the situation is under control and generally I go on. When I've had flats, I seem to get the same treatment. If I've already got the wheel off and my hands dirty, a few people might stop to see if I've got everything I need. When I got a flat and decided to walk it out to the shop (not wanting to sit down on a muddy curb) tons of people stopped to make sure I was all right.

[channlluv]

I've had two bad crashes. The first, my husband and daughter were with me, so I had immediate assistance - I had blacked out briefly, but DH got me back on my bike pretty quickly and helped me get the wounds cleaned up and handled when we got home. I tried not to bleed all over the car. Serious road rash.

The second crash happened in the parking lot as I was dismounting and trying not to crash into my car while trying to figure out those da*n pedal cage strappy things. Oy-vey. I landed hard and heard two women behind me laughing at me. It was pretty embarrassing. I unhooked my trapped foot and got the bike off me enough to get up, then looked around at them. "Uh, are you okay?" one of them asked when she realized I'd heard her and her girlfriend laughing at me. "Yeah, nothing bruised by my ego."

I lied, of course. When I got home and checked my hip, it looked like I'd sat in purple paint.


As for me stopping, I came up on a young mother with a toddler in a back-of-the-bike seat and a three-year-old who'd crashed her little training wheel bike into a sticker bush/cactus off the paved path. The little girl was screaming, the baby was crying, and the mom was frantically trying to calm them both down. Luckily, I had a first aid kit in my bag and I had a clean water bottle, too, so I had her cleaned up quick, and we used the adhesive tape from the medkit to pull out the stickers, then I put Neosporin on her scrapes. The mom was so grateful. I was just happy to help, and I told her that if my own daughter was ever in trouble like that, I'd hope someone would stop to help her, too.

I can't believe people get so caught up in their own ride they pass without even inquiring if someone needs help.

Roxy

[Catrin]

I always ask when I see someone standing at the side of the road with their bike - especially if they are alone. Even if they are with someone I have asked - and both times it turned out one of them needed to use my air pump as their CO2 cartridge wasn't working for them and the other cyclist had neither cartridge nor pump.

Every time I've been passed by a cyclist when I have been standing at the side of the road with my bike they have asked me if I needed help, which I thought was nice. I do tend to ride in rural areas so I don't know if this makes a difference.

[KnottedYet]

Badger, I am so sorry your experience was like that!

I always stop, or at least ask if someone needs anything. (If they are on the cell I don't bother them. Either they've just stopped to make the call or they are calling back up, whichever, I don't interrupt their phone call.)

I've given out spare tubes, lent my pump, my tire levers, allen wrench, etc. Usually while I'm helping someone several other cyclists will call out "Got everything?" as they go by.

Women have complained to me that men are patronizing and belittling womankind if they offer help while a woman is working on a mechanical; but honestly I think offering help or tools is just the standard around here among all adult cyclists, male or female.

[OakLeaf]

Man, that's awful. I always stop, or at least exchange thumbs up, and I've had people stop for me before. Bici or moto. Unless someone's on the phone and obviously uninjured, then I'll figure they have things under control.

Even on an organized ride, I stopped, offered a tandem couple my chain tool (they declined, they had apparently had who knows how many mechanicals already and were just fed up and ready to take the sag) - and then I rode on to the next support vehicle and made sure that they knew the couple was back there.

Most embarrassing time I was the recipient of the offer of help was when I got a flat on the bike path. I couldn't get my CO2 inflater to work (turns out it wasn't me, it was a wonky head that I eventually threw out), so I was using my mini pump, which takes forever under the best of circumstances; and the first time I hadn't got the tire bead seated properly, so I had to deflate it and do it all over again. I had just started pumping the first time when a guy on a TT bike threw an offer of help over his shoulder. Twenty minutes later, after he'd been to the end of the bike path and back, he came back the other direction and again asked if I needed anything. "Same flat?" he asked incredulously (and I'm sure he thought I really did need help and was just too proud to accept). :p:o

[Bike Chick]

That's terrible that no one stopped to help. I always ask if they need help when someone is stopped and have had others do the same--even in a triathlon. Several years ago, I came upon a young woman in a charity ride that had dropped her chain during a tough climb. I stopped at the top of the hill and walked back down to see if she was okay and found her in tears. It was her first ride with her new bike and her husband was way out front with the guys (this I could relate to) and she hadn't a clue what to do. I helped her get her chain on and finished the ride with her. We became friends and rode together at several local rides after that.

Maybe it's because of the rural area I live in but that's just not ever been an issue around here.

[marni]

about the only time this ever came up for debate, and even then it was just joshing back and forth was when I was on the Southern Tier and climbing Emerson pass with another rider. Some crazy driver came down the barely two lane wide extremely winding road above the stream 300 feet below, swung wide on a turn after they had passed us, narrowly missing, barely made the turn we had just completed. We spent the next 1000 feet of climb debating what the moral obligation would be if the car had gone off the edge. Would we have felt morally obligated to ride back down the 1,000 feet, scramble down to the wreck site , and render aidknowing that we would then have to reclimb the 1,000 feet plus the rest of the pass? The general consensus was that we would dial 911 report the accident and hope that someone coming up the hill would stop, and or that we would think twice about rendering aid to said idiot in the spirit of "ok you idiot, out of the gene pool." But it was all in fun and really we were just trying to take our minds off the climb and and the gasping along at 3 mph .

In all other cases I have and always will inquire if everything is ok and will always try to render whatever help I can offer. It's just good Karma, and passing along what others have done for me.

[OakLeaf]

Let's put this in perspective.

A couple of weeks ago one of my riding buddies stopped in the middle of a hill, just about where it turns from 8% to 12%, to help a box turtle cross the road.

I was ahead of him, and I saw the turtle, but decided that the road was pretty quiet and it would probably be okay. But it nagged at me all the way up the hill, and when I learned that my friend had stopped, I was both glad for the turtle and ashamed of myself.

Yet, no one would stop to help a person after a crash? That's shameful. I hope that your experience was isolated.

[maryellen]

I've often had folks inquire even when I'm just stopped at the side of the road for a break and much appreciate the concern. When I come upon a fallen or injured cyclist, I do ask if okay (and struggled to help the one time the cyclist replied "not really"). If it's a mechanical, I usually just ask if they have everything they need. So far the only concrete assistance I've offered has been the use of my cell phone!

[Grog]

That's sad and a bit depressing. :(

Like others, I have given spare tubes, loaned pumps, and helped in various ways. Thankfully never had to help anyone after a crash, but the only time I had a serious crash on my bike there was an elderly couple going by in a car that stopped to help me and I was thankful (although I turned out ok). Mind you, that was at 7am in a quiet area. I'm sure if it had been a busy time of day nobody would have stopped. Weird crowd effect maybe?

[pumpkinpony]

That is sad. I frequently have people ask if I'm okay when I just stop to take a break.

Out on the bike path last weekend - lots of bikes, joggers, strollers... I passed an elderly guy on a beach cruiser. On my way back he had a flat tire, walking the bike, and sweating pretty good. I stopped and asked if he needed help. Turns out I couldn't do much for him as his tire was totally done for. Offered my phone so he could get a ride as he was about 6 miles from the beach where he started from... He really appreciated my stopping and said I was the only one who had asked if he needed help.

As many people as there were riding down that path I think it's disgusting that none of the 'roadies' would bother to stop and help an old guy (or anyone, for that matter).

[Librarygirl]

It makes me happy and I am also unsurprised to see that so many people on this forum think that it is very important to stop and assist people out and about, whether injured or in need of mechanical or other assistance; whether cycling, walking or other activity. I get the impression that the TE-ers here are a very thoughtful, considerate and welfare-minded bunch, which is great.

I don't know if that is more so because it is primarily women?

I would like to think that cyclists as a 'culture' would be helpful and considerate too, but in my experience too it is quite varying as to the extent of this. I certainly do notice a difference in attitude to other cyclists depending on whether the person is a kitted-out full on roadie, or a commuter/recreational cyclist. Also, age and gender does seem to play a part. Definitely the younger guys seem the least likely to give thought to the welfare of other cyclists/pedestrians around them.

I guess it is a bit hard sometimes when you are not sure of the reaction you might get, or potential offence that might be taken by an offer of assistance, but I think that we have to get past that and ask anyway. And if somebody is injured, it's a lot less likely that they are going to get offended by someone offering assistance, especially if they're alone.

Anyway, an offer of help can be a nice way to meet other people along the way and to feel connected in this sometimes lonely world. I stopped to offer assistance to a guy (around my age) when I was cycling around the lake recently. I helped him with a loan of my pump and puncture kit and we chatted while he was repairing. He was quite cute and offered to buy me a coffee to say thankyou! I said thankyou but not necessary, but you know, it could have been a nice way to make a new friend or even a potential romantic connection! ;)

[crazycanuck]

If i'm out on the dirt & see someone stopped, I normally say "You ok yo?". I might not have the item they require but at least I offered. Same at XC events-i'm not in to win (rather just trying to beat my previous times & conquer stuff) so am happy to assist in some way.

A while back Ian was going to bunnings for something & as he turned from our street he noticed a cyclist walking for some reason. The gent had a flat along the bike path a few hundred meters away so Ian invited him back to our house & offered our floor pump as the gent fixed his tire. Nice guy & bike!

We have a floor pump in our ute & if i see a roadie stopped fixing thier bike, i'll stop & offer it.

[bmccasland]

I've always offered help to riders I've seen stopped along the levee path, unless they're talking on their cell phones, then I figure they don't need my help. And I've had John Q Public offer me help on a MS training ride when I had mechanical trouble. The gentleman was driving a van, stopped and offered a ride to town or the next rest-stop, and I was leary about getting in the van, but one of our M/C escorts came up and said he's follow us, where-ever went, "to Kansas if necessary." So I felt better, and took up the ride to the next rest-stop where there was mechanical assistance for my troubled bike. I'm not so sure I'd get in the stranger's van, but knowing the M/C rider was back there made me feel safe. The Good Sam was being just that. There are kind strangers, just too bad the creeps have ruined our trust of most strangers.

[Grog]

I will help anyone (unless my gut tells me it's a creep who is setting up a trap - which hasn't happened so far), even ungrateful roadies that went out for a ride with NOTHING to fix a flat tire, on a road without public transit. My husband, if I recall correctly, thought the guy was not worthy of being helped, and mildly annoyed at how long it took for the guy to fix his flat tire (with my kit and pump), but the views from the Shoreline Highway (thanks MaillotPois for the recommended route!), made it okay for me to stop for a while. :D

[jessmarimba]

I always stop and ask if people are ok. And in my experience on the trails, I haven't ever even stopped to take a picture without someone making sure I'm ok.

I wonder if there's more of a sense of responsibility to ask on the trails, since it could be hours before someone else comes across the same stranded cyclist? I know I'd be more likely to ask a stranded motorist if they needed help (from the safety of my car) if they were in the middle of nowhere vs. the side of the interstate.

[Bike Chick]

Your thread has made me so aware of offering help that I stopped to ask someone in a car with a flat tire if they needed help on my commute this morning. Don't know what I could have done since all I had was a CO2 cartridge and a patch kit but I offered anyway:D

[limewave]

I am amazed that people often ignore situations around them. It's so easy to just ask if someone needs help. Even if you think you might not be able to be of assistance, sometimes just having an extra set of hands is needed.

A few weeks ago I was riding with both of my kids with the trail-a-bike and burly. We were on a long, steep hill and I dropped a chain. I think 5-7 cyclists rode right past us. I'm an experienced rider, fixing a dropped chain is no biggie. But I was surprised that no one offered to help being that I obviously had a mechanical issue and two small children with me.

[Crankin]

I ask anyone who is by the side of the road, unless they are obviously fixing something themselves or on the phone. Not that I could help with much, but I do have basic flat changing stuff and extra tubes.
Last fall I was riding with one friend; I came to a stop sign and made a left. After I turned, I stopped to wait for my friend. At the intersection there was one of those New England type triangle intersections, with a small "green" in the middle. Two guys, around my age were lying/sitting on the grass, with their bikes laying on their sides. I asked if they needed help, they waved me off, without even a thank you. After my friend got there, and I was taking off some layers, I noticed one of the guys' wives driving up in a Cadillac Escalade, and putting their bikes in the car. I think they just were tired of the hills around here!

[nscrbug]

I will always slowdown and ask if help is needed...usually I get a "thumbs up" and continue on my way. Was on a ride with a friend not too long ago. Two guys on tri bikes pulled out from a side road and were in front of us...about 100 or so meters up ahead. Suddenly, I see the guy in front violently thrash his bike from side to side, before slamming into the street. I just screamed out loud "Oh my God, that guy just went down". Nearly 2 seconds later, the guy behind him rode right into him, and also went down. My friend and I stopped and jumped off our bikes to help. The 2 guys were hurt pretty badly...lots of road rash and one of them was holding his collarbone, which I presumed was broken. Lucky for them, they crashed right in front of a local fire department...so the EMT's literally just ran down the driveway to get to them. I was so freaked out by the whole incident, that my hands were shaking and I actually had trouble steering my bike for awhile. Turned out that the first guy went down because a bee flew into his shirt and he was trying to swat it away.

I crashed my own bike and went down on the street in front of some busineses, and several people came rushing over to help. One offered bandages and a first aid kit. Aside from a few scrapes, I was okay and my DH was with me at the time. But it was nice to get the offers of help.

[loopybunny]

I was thinking this morning how when I crashed on my bike some time ago on a bike path, nobody bothered to stop. Nobody even asked me if I was ok, even though there were people riding past me in both directions (I had an audience when it happened).

I wasn't badly hurt, but I did have a bloody knee and thought I may have busted it. My bike was scratched up a bit, and my handlebar was twisted.

If you see someone who's crashed, would you not at the very least stop to inquire they're ok, rather than turning a blind eye and just going about your business?

Sorry to hear that! Regardless if you were badly hurt, you'd think someone would ask. Heck, I've stopped to take a picture of something or remove arm warmers and had people ask if I was okay or needed help.

That being said, I always ask if a person needs help when I see them on the side of the road. Crash or no crash. I've even been known to do this while driving my car. It just seems like the right thing to do.

[smilingcat]

Even if you can't give actual assistance to fix mechanical problem, flats, or first aid, it would be a very nice to stop and ask. If you carry a cell phone, you could call the distressed rider's SO... And I'm always grateful when people stop to ask.

My first major crash where I shattered my right collar bone (Clavicle to you doctor types), crushed and shattered my helmet, I really appreciated all those who went and called the paramedics, and those who helped me get my bottle of water. It was a blistering hot day. And with shattered collar bone I really couldn't move around without the blinding pain and those who got my bottle of water and poured water into my mouth I am ever so grateful.

And I have vivid memories of EMTs grousing about how the drivers were not slowing down when they drove by the ambulance. I was afraid for the EMT's and me to get hit by one of the cars whizzing by us. It would be very nice if cars would slow down around an ambulance.

So thank you to all those who regularly stop and ask.

damsel in distress (not now :p)

[Aggie_Ama]

Yes, in a heart beat and I ask if I see someone with a flat if they have everything they need. One day I had three flats, another cyclist gave me a CO2 AND a tube. I consider any help I provide paying it forward.

Some make you feel better stories locally:

1. Just last week the former president of the local road cycling club collapsed on a ride with a heart attack. A motorist stopped and administered CPR, the cyclist is recovering the hospital not in a coffin. He has a long way to go (I think he was in a coma) but he is alive because someone stopped.

2. One of my husband's teammates wrecked hard last year racing in the Cat 1/Pro Category. Another cyclist gave up his race because the guy who wrecked was bleeding and injured. He checked on the racer, helped him out of a trail then rode to alert a course marshal. Turned out he had broke a bone (I think) and had a concussion. Sorry no race is worth the possibility that a rider is seriously injured.

3. Years back (2004?) my husband wrecked commuting home from school. He was really out of it and some girl walking by asked if he needed her to call anyone. Campus medics were already on the way but she called me so I could meet him at the hospital. She was late to class but the really sweet thing, she called me that night to check on him. Nice, genuine person.

No matter what I am riding for (commuting, racing, pleasure) I would check on someone. They don't have to be bleeding, if they are down it takes 5 seconds to ask "are you okay?" I think it really stinks that people passed you by. Glad to see it is not regional, I believe most people would ask.

[badger]

I'm so happy that caring for the fellow man is alive and well here.

And I'm shocked that I didn't think of this horrible story just until now:

I work for the fire department, and almost 2 years ago, one of our female firefighters was vacationing in India by motorcycle. She was in Goa, and was hit by a bus. She was hurt very badly, but NOBODY helped her. They essentially left her for dead by the side of the road.

It was made worse by the fact she was dark complected and female.

Who knows how long she was on the road, but finally someone stopped to help her - a British woman on vacation. She managed to flag a taxi and took the firefighter to 3, yes, THREE different hospitals before one would accept her. The firefighter apparently wasn't carrying any cash so they were reluctant to admit her.

Long and short, the firefighter sustained catastrophic head injury and passed away two days later. The woman who helped her was flown to Vancouver and was given a special commendation during the firefighter's funeral.

[shootingstar]

It was made worse by the fact she was dark complected and female.

Who knows how long she was on the road, but finally someone stopped to help her - a British woman on vacation. She managed to flag a taxi and took the firefighter to 3, yes, THREE different hospitals before one would accept her. The firefighter apparently wasn't carrying any cash so they were reluctant to admit her.

Long and short, the firefighter sustained catastrophic head injury and passed away two days later. The woman who helped her was flown to Vancouver and was given a special commendation during the firefighter's funeral.

You mean she was dark complexioned and female, which made it worse?

Anyway, this is horrific and sad.

[badger]

You mean she was dark complexioned and female, which made it worse?

Anyway, this is horrific and sad.

well, she was in India where women generally aren't treated very well. If she was blonde, or more visibily a "tourist", she may have stood a better chance of being helped.

[Owlie]

You mean she was dark complexioned and female, which made it worse?

Anyway, this is horrific and sad.

Someone with a half-Goan background here...
Yes. Indians in general are very--shall we say--color-conscious. It's an indicator of, among other things, social class. And even though Goa is culturally somewhat different from much of the rest of India, that still holds. And yes, this goes for medical treatment. If you don't obviously have money--ie, being relatively light-skinned or looking like a tourist, you're going to have trouble getting medical care.

I know that I've posted a picture of myself here. I'd probably have difficulty getting medical treatment there unless they saw my passport.
This fact probably would have saddened my Goan grandmother (who was a doctor), but this has probably become more prevalent as the demographics of the state have changed.

/tangent