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news
Gravesend Cyclopark (via StreetView)Kent cyclist who suffered fractured spine says he'll never ride again after collision he says was deliberately caused by pedestrian – police appeal for witnesses
A Kent cyclist who suffered a fractured pelvis, fractured spine, dislocated shoulder and ruptured kidneys in a collision with a pedestrian believes she deliberately walked across his path.
Kent Online reports that 58-year-old Anthony Worrell-Dearing was riding on a shared use path next to Gravesend Cyclopark at around 7.30am on May 5 when he approached two women in their late 20s or early 30s walking in the same direction.
"I understand the area isn't just for cyclists,” he said. “I am always respectful of walkers and dogs. If I see them, I always say, 'Good morning' or 'Hello', so they know I am there.
"The women were walking in the same direction as I was cycling so they couldn't have seen me. I called out and they turned around. Seeing me, they moved over to the right side of the path, giving me space to overtake on the left.
"I couldn't have been doing more than 12mph. I was making sure to pass them safely and I thought they had moved over to allow me to do so.
"However, as I passed them one of the women deliberately walked across my path at almost running pace."
There was a collision and Worrell-Dearing fell from his bike.
"All they did was look at me and walk away," he said. "They didn't say a single thing. All I knew was that I was hurting but they didn't even ask if I was okay. I couldn't believe what had happened. I was in so much pain.”
After about 10 minutes, another cyclist came across Worrell-Dearing and suggested phoning an ambulance.
Unfortunately, the ambulance couldn't get to him because the gates by the Cyclopark were closed.
"It took them two hours to get me to the hospital. I don't remember much as I was on a high dosage of morphine but the ambulance crew were amazing. I have no idea how they got me out of there on that stretcher."
Worrell-Dearing has been told that his recovery time could be anything from eight to 12 weeks – although he has since been back to hospital after a cyst on his kidney, that was caused by the incident, burst.
"I might be 58 but I was fit and healthy,” he said. “I've ran many marathons in the past for charity. I've ridden in the Surrey 100-mile bike ride. I'm not a slouch but this accident has left me down and I can't get up.
"I don't think I'll ride a bike, not ever again. I trust myself just not other people."
He added: "I don't know why they did what they did. I didn't do anything wrong, I have nothing to hide, I just want to make other cyclists aware of what people can do."
A police spokesperson said: "We received a report that a man was deliberately knocked off his bike by a woman while he used a cycle path between 7.30am and 7.45am on Tuesday, May 5. The victim sustained an injury to his shoulder."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01474-366-149 quoting 46/83257/20 or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800-555-111 or online.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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28 comments
The only thing lower down the scale of giving no fucks than pedestrians are dog walkers. Wankers were out if force yesterday when I took my lad out down the local 'shared' cycle route. No leads and dog dodging or leads right arcross the path and a disgruntled retraction when you try and get by. No social distance in evidence either as groups of them gathered to talk about how how much shit little poochie just did all over the floor.
Only two out of all of you showed any symapthy ;-(
All the best to the injured rider. Heal up well and fast.
If this is true what nasty women they are - whether they deliberately caused the crash or not they didn't even stop to help ;-(
I've often wondered; what kind of vegetables do you ride? Cucumber perhaps?
BTW, it was three. But who's counting? Certainly not you.
That's the Medway Towns for you....
That big river in Gravesend is the Thames I think you will find.
Yep, and the river just south of it is the Medway, all the town in the strip between are the Kentish towns otherwise known as the Medway towns. If your born in Kent north of the Medway your a Kentish man, south of it you are a man of Kent or whatever gender you wish to ascribe.
Sorry to be so Kentish!!! Heyho
Btw obviously these two women were right Kents weren't they? Hope you get fully recovered quick mate
Incidents like this highlight that it is about time for pedestrians to pass a test, have insurance and wear number plates for identification before they are allowed outside to mingle with law abiding citizens getting about on their bikes.
And have to wear hi-viz and a helmet. And pay road tax.
Actually, we should do a Matthew Briggs and get the law changed so that pedestrians can be convicted of causing death by dangerous walking.
I remember a study that said if you put spikes and explosives on a car, drivers behave much more cautiously.
What if bikes came with spikes too? would pedestrians still want to walk in front of one when they knew well enough that one was coming past?
I at least know my reflexes well enough that if the same happened to me, my foot would kick out at the person, can't say I would take the landing any better, but they would be more likely to complain and paired with a video recording my ride, would be much easier for the police to find them.
What if cyclists could carry a Velo-Dog, like in the early 1900's. I think we would be afforded all the space we could ever want!
I wish the rider well, having suffered some of those injuries myself.
However, in such cases there are always two sides. The pedestrians may well have another side. Even so, the below is a cautionary note for all riders, and a good reason to make sure you have public liability insurance.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-cyclist-crash-rob...
They will tell a different story, but to leave somebody clearly injured without helping or calling help is utterly callous.
For me there's different lessons to be learnt from the Hazeldean case.
Call me old-fashioned, but I hold to that even when driving a car. I'm pretty sure that at no point do I ever have the right to just run into someone...
If your name is Helen measures...
Ah, but she went to church and did charity stuff and was an all-round Good Person so she's allowed to run into people IIRC
I never understood what bearing being a good cancer medic and having fine character references had to do with causing death by dangerous driving.
Either killing someone by driving on the wrong side of the road is wrong or not. Surely?
Me neither. Maybe she was on a mission from God...?
My observation both as a cyclist and a pedestrian is that even a modest bell rung close causes an unaware pedestrian to jump and often step sideways reflexidly, an air horn is very rarely likely to do other than terrify a pedestrian and annoy bystanders.
As a pedestrian I prefer a loud bell like a Lion Bell rung from a sensible distance. It's surprisingly difficult to hear a bike just arrive behind you on a tow path.
Nowadays there's lots of walkers/joggers wearing headphones so I rarely bother with a bell. Just slow down and give them plenty of room.
I wish him a speedy recovery without complications.
It's getting to the point where cameras are needed for self-protection.
True, they are a double edged sword, but if you are riding responsibly and within the law, then that is not a problem.
Since my accident nearly 2 years ago - which has left me permanently disabled - I now record every ride with front and back cameras (admittedly, not good if impact is from side, but chances are who ever hit you would appear in at least one camera, even if they are just departing the scene).
I do hope that Mr Worrell-Dearing manages to put this behind him; it would be a shame to give up something you enjoy because of the actions of dickheads.
Theres a hell of a difference between:
"The victim sustained an injury to his shoulder."
And...
"(The Victim) suffered a fractured pelvis, fractured spine, dislocated shoulder and ruptured kidneys"
hmmmmmmm. It's also an incredible list of injuries at 12mph.. poor guy took an amazing fall
Depending on how they walked in front / barged he could have easily fallen onto the peddles / handlebars in to the lower back. Or a kerb stone.
Are you implying that he's making it up? The police probably got the initial report from the ambulance drivers/hospital of a dislocated shoulder, which would be obvious, then the other injuries were found at hospital on scanning and the police haven't been updated/updated their appeal. It's perfectly possible to fracture your spine and/or pelvis slipping on ice at walking pace of 3mph, so nothing unexpected about doing it coming off a bike at 12mph. As for the kidneys, they are highly vulnerable to damage: he may have fallen on a rock, hit part of his bike, had a tool in his jersey pocket etc. Not sure of the need for cynicism here.
I presume this is being treated as an assault?
Well, it would be if the pedestrian was injured, not the cyclist.
This is the equivalent of wire being strung across paths, and nail boards buried on them. It would be really interesting to talk to this woman and find out why she did it, but I suspect the continual drip drip of the anti-cycling media.
Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery.