Cyclist's warning after near-fatal crash

A cyclist who suffered serious injuries in a near-fatal crash says his helmet saved his life as he's urges other riders to wear head protection.

Rafal Zuchowski, 41, was cycling in June 2020 when he ploughed into a car that had stopped suddenly near Gloucester.

Mr Zuchowski, an experienced cyclist, was catapulted off his bike and landed on his head, splitting his helmet in two. The incident left him in a coma with life-threatening injuries including a brain injury and multiple fractures.

The dairy worker, whose claim against the driver has recently been settled, said he was "so lucky" to have survived.

Mr Zuchowski, a Polish national who moved to Gloucester in 2008, was less than five minutes from home when he came off his bike.

"Car drivers need to remember that a cyclist doesn't have a seatbelt, they don't have the protection of a metal shell – they are not protected at all," he said.

He is still suffering from a weakness on one side of his body, post-traumatic stress disorder, fatigue, memory loss and anxiety.

He loved cycling and would cover up to 100 miles (160km) at a time – but "cannot ride" any more.

Urging fellow cyclists to wear helmets, he said: "You hear people saying they aren't going to wear a cycle helmet because they don't look nice or aren't cool.

"[But] this thing could save your life, which is so much more important than how your hair might look."

Mr Zuchowski, who works as a dispatch coordinator at a dairy company, said his struggles to cope with his injuries led to the breakdown of his relationship.

"I tried for a long time to keep my mental health struggles in the background, but I have come to realise that I do need help to move on in my life," he said.

"When you realise how close you came to dying, you do learn to appreciate the little things in life more and that life is very precious."

Mohammed Ali, from law firm Slater and Gordon which is helped Mr Zuchowski fight for compensation, said Mr Zuchowski "has made a very strong recovery, which is testament to his determination to rebuild his life, but the challenges for him continue".

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.