What Really Happened by Jeanette
Dear All,
I have just been on the internet to try to discover all the incorrect news items on the 61 year old cyclist in St Agnes. wjen I discovered the Pedelec thread.
Flecc, yes sadly it was my Richard. He was not in collision with any vehicle what so ever, nor did he swerve to avoid one. In fact he came to see me at my hospital for his usual cup of coffee and set off home at 12.15 . At the top of our road he was seen to manouvre around some pedestrians, continue a little down the road, wobble slightly and fall to the ground.
He had sustained a sudden, and unexpected, massive brain haemorrhage. The road is narrow, only just over a car width, it was holiday time, plenty of witnesses. Because he was so deeply unconscious at the scene the area was immediately cordoned off and two vehicles that arrived in the immediate vercinty were trapped within. They were checked to ensure there had been no contact with Richard's bike, and there was none, they were some distance apart from where he lay. In addition, they were left there for the rest of the day as reference points in measuring the road etc. as it was deemed to be a fatal accident.
I, in the meantime had been becoming worried as to why Richard was not home. The accident occurred at 1250 hrs. Eventually I checked the A&E at my hospital and found he had been brought in, possbile fatal accident. The bleed could have happened at any time, and any place. These last two months Richard had been feeling particularly well and never complained of a headache, and his BP was well within that advised by his cardiologist.
Yes he was wearing a helmet, and yellow high viz coat. The helmet had just a slight bump on the polystyrene at the back, nothing to indicate any force to the ground what so ever. The bike apparently is undamaged. Richard had not a cut or graze on him.
I had to make a 20 min decision whether to agree to transferring him to the Neurologist in Derriford for immediate surgery, this I obviously did, there was a 50% chance of getting thro the operation - and I may well add here that they said that it was because he had kept his cardiovascular exercise up by cycling, albeit electric cycling, that they decided he had a chance of survival.
Sadly after surgery I spent 11 days and nights with him in the Nerological Critical Care Unit at Derriford hospital. However, it was clear that once recovered from the surgery, after 4 days off sedation although breathing for himself (which is really just a reflex), he was non-responsive and if he were to continue the chances of any quality of life would be the absolute bottom end of poor. They removed his life support on Friday evening and he lived for 6 minutes after this. He died in my arms at 7.16 pm.
His funeral is on the 16th September in the St Agnes Parish Church followed by burial after in the local cemetery. The Coroner is involved and there is to be an inquest.
I am absolutely mortified by the incorrect news coverage all over the South West as it points to him being an irresponsible cyclist. He was a very careful cyclist, and as I'm sure most of you on this site know we loved getting out and about on our Sprints.
I do not regret the bikes, he died very happy, doing what he loved. As for myself, I am devastated. I naturally have not been on the Pedelec site lately, but felt I should come in to let you all know the truth, especially those of you who have known me on this site. Indeed, if he had of made it home he may have had the collapse in the house and I would have discovered him when I returned from work. Incidentally, because I had meetings that day at work I had tried to steer him to using the car to get something for his train layout - I'm so glad he was not driving when he had his stroke. I'm also glad we had that last coffee together.
I may very well be selling my bikes now, but not quite yet. I just don't know how I could enjoy cycling any more.
Jeanette