Dear Clarion,
My name is Rathan. I am the Bianchi rider that you kindly assisted last Thursday morning. Firstly, just to reassure you, I am okay.
I googled the words "accident Thursday morning Clapham Road" and came across your posting. I was really happy because I had been wanting to thank you, and also the kind lady who came to my side giving me guidance and the Australian guy who also stopped to assist. I truly appreciate all your efforts that morning. Thank-you so much!
The whole incident happened so fast. Your initial posting gives an excellent outline of what happened...better than I could describe. The first time I saw the red truck was as it was turning in front of me. I screamed out, but obviously to little avail. I attempted to turn left myself, but got knocked down by the truck, and then felt what I believed was the truck going over me.
Almost immediately, you all appeared on the spot and thanks to your speedy response the emergency services were there in what felt like only a couple of minutes. In that time, the kind lady watching over kept talking to me and advised me not to move, which I probably would otherwise have tried to do. I also heard another female cyclist stop to offer assistance as she was a doctor. You all may not realise, but having your support at that moment in time, and not feeling alone was a great source of strength for me. Whilst lying there, I also heard in the background arguments going off, which I thought the driver had instigated. It was slightly confusing as the driver was being very apologetic to me as I lay there and didn't sound aggressive at all. It was only after reading your account that I realised that another individual was involved.
As I said, the paramedics were seeing to me amazingly quickly after the accident. The main pain I felt was around my right thigh area. I couldn't feel pain anywhere else. They cut away my trousers, and said there were no visible external injuries. They felt around for breaks, and the pain I was feeling meant they took precautions and strapped me to a board. They were really great, and brought a sense of calm to the whole situation. They took me to Kings College hospital, even cracking jokes on route, and also moaning about the Chelsea result the night before. I was taken to Resus. It was as I lay there, that I saw my bike helmet lying next to me. It was pretty much crushed, and it was then that it struck me what the impact must have been. After being taken for X-rays they found a couple of breaks in my pelvis. But they say they hope it will heal in time, and that I need to be on crutches for 6 weeks. I'm back at home now, dosed up on pain-killers. I'm going back for a follow-up at the hospital on Thursday. As with the ambulance services, the nurses and doctors were incredible. They work for 12 hour days in difficult and testing circumstances and provide such professional care. I think they had added sympathy for me, as a lot of them said they cycle into work themselves.
I've had some time to reflect now, and I think I am fortunate to have escaped so lightly. It could have been a lot worse. The image of my cycle helmet needs no further words.
I have really been enjoying my cycling and far prefer being out in the fresh air than being cooped up in the tube. I love feeling awake and rejuvenated when I reach the office. I like to think I take care when riding and it's a real shame that there are these risks associated with cycling. You wrote that you hope I will be back on the road. Well, I also hope to be back on the bicycle one day (though it will have to be a new one now!)
I'm sorry you have that image of me from last Thursday morning, and I really felt for you when reading the account of your journey home that evening. I think it's best to focus on the positives that cycling brings, being outdoors, riding at the crack of dawn as the sun rises, and all the associated health benefits of cycling. It really is a great mode of transport. Enjoy your cycling again, and THANKS AGAIN to all of you that helped me last Thursday morning!
