Quad-fall Ali allowed out of hospital

U2 frontman Bono's wife sustained broken ribs after the incident on the remote Cobano Beach in the north of the country. She was airlifted to hospital in the capital of San Jose, 300km away.

Ali (51) and Bono, whose real name is Paul Hewson, have been on holiday in the Central American country for the past 10 days.

A representative for the couple said that Ali was doing fine.

"Ali had a bike accident while on a family holiday. She sustained a couple of broken ribs and some cuts and bruises, and is recovering very well," the spokesperson said.

Local media in Costa Rica said that the mum-of-four was released from hospital yesterday.

Timothy Williams, editor-in-chief of Inside Costa Rica, said Ali was transferred to the state-of-the-art hospital by helicopter, a flight of less than 30 minutes.

"We spoke to a person whose father was in the same hospital and their suite was next to Ali's," he said.

"It was guarded by two heavily armed men."

"They were at Cobano Beach and apparently she was driving an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) on the beach," he said.

"She was flown by helicopter from the beach to San Jose."

Mr Williams said quad-biking was a popular sport for tourists in the quieter spots.

"We don't have any private beaches in Costa Rica. Cobano is off the beaten track," he said.

"It wouldn't be uncommon for people to ride horses or ATVs there."

Immigration officials confirmed that Bono and Ali had been in the country since February 11.

U2 have a soft spot for the tropical Central American country .

He and U2 guitarist The Edge were spotted last year swimming with dolphins off the Osa Peninsula on the band's private yacht.

clairemurphy@herald.ie