Cyclist's Round-the-World Dream Shattered by Freak Fall

A planned two-year expedition around the globe was unexpectedly halted for Matilda Pine after a serious accident in Turkey on July 10, 2026. The 30-year-old cyclist fractured her back in two places when she fell backward from her friend's shoulders while trying to take a picture.

Pine, who had prepared for seven years for this journey, is currently recovering in a hospital in Kayseri, Turkey. She documented her travels, sharing encounters and landscapes on social media. Despite the painful injury, medical assessments show stable fractures with no spinal cord damage, indicating a full recovery is expected.

Medics have advised Pine against traveling for at least six months, a significant delay to her adventure. She expressed disappointment but remains determined to resume her world tour once recovered, with plans to revisit central Asia. Her travel insurance is arranging her return to the UK on a stretcher.

Pine's journey had already taken her through the Balkans, attracting a following of several thousand people online. She expressed a strong desire to return to her expedition and complete the challenge.