Saturday 20th August 2005
I was on my way to work. Trying to get there as quick as my legs would allow. Pushing the biggest gear I could as I had left home a little later than I would have liked. Unfortunately for me I had an accident. I was hit side-on by a car. The impact shattered the windscreen and knocked me out cold. I came round in the ambulance half in a state of shock, half in a state of bewilderment. Why am I here? When am i going to wake up? When the paramedics were speaking to me I had no reason to believe it was a Saturday morning. The last thing I could remember was walking to class in school at 11am on Friday. As far as i was concerned, I was asleep.
"You've been in an accident. You were hit by a car while you were on your bike."
"No. No, i'm asleep"
As much as I wanted to pretend, this wasn't going to end in an instant. I was taken to hospital and straight into the Resus department. My head was secured and my neck was in a brace. I could move my arms and legs but they were in a stinging trance of pain. My head was aching, I had never experienced a sore head anywhere near it.
Gradually it came back to me. I could remember Friday evening, waking up on Saturday, leaving the house in a rush, seeing the car. It still hadn't hit home though.
After being taken for a neck X-Ray, I was allowed free of the neck brace and head support. Finally I could wriggle my extremely uncomfortable legs and look at some of my injuries. The knuckles on my right hand were skinned completely. They still have chunks missing from them. My right knee was bloodied and swollen, it was so painful to move. My left shin was badly grazed. I was informed that my left shoulder was skinned. I could feel the tender tissue against the hospital sheets. I was also told I had a laceration on my neck, which would have to be sutured.
My father and girlfriend were waiting outside. Eventually my father was allowed in and we both began crying. I could have had much more serious injuries, paralyzation, death. I was so lucky, extremely bloody lucky.
After going for a head X-Ray, it was found I had fractured my skull. Another lucky thing was, I had avoided any bruising or bleeding on my brain.
Later that evening my girlfriend was allowed to see me and along with my parents we all agreed one thing.
SHOULD HAVE WORN A HELMET
I have a helmet but I never wear it. I never saw the need. Never enjoyed it. Basically I was arrogant enough to say: "nothing will ever happen. I'm a competent cyclist"
Now I will never allow myself to leave the house without one. I'm hoping i'll be fit enough to get back out on the bike next weekend, with a helmet.
Now I don't want to sound like your mother, or even worse your mother-in-law, but next time you go out on your bike whether its to work, on a century ride or just round the corner, think about your head. You may say: "oh i've never crashed" but that doesn't mean you won't. I'm extremely lucky in that i'll be able to get back to normal but not everyone is as lucky as me. People will continue to die in accidents because they do not wear a helmet and it would cheer me up a load if some of you guys started wearing helmets. Remember we are one big family, and lets hope the family only gets bigger.