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Experience: I was run over by a lorry | Experience: I was run over by a lorry |
(7 months later) | |
I wasn't sure whether to cycle to work that day: I had a bit of a backache from the physical effort my job entailed. But I knew I'd get a buzz from the exercise, and it was a beautiful autumn morning. As I rode, I was thinking about the day ahead. At the time, I worked in woodland conservation and was looking forward to getting my chainsaw licence so I could take on more responsibility. | I wasn't sure whether to cycle to work that day: I had a bit of a backache from the physical effort my job entailed. But I knew I'd get a buzz from the exercise, and it was a beautiful autumn morning. As I rode, I was thinking about the day ahead. At the time, I worked in woodland conservation and was looking forward to getting my chainsaw licence so I could take on more responsibility. |
I was riding, close to the kerb, along what is normally a quiet country A road in Kent. It was rush hour and the traffic was stop-start – I kept being overtaken by a large lorry, then catching it up again. Just before we came to a traffic island, it lurched towards me. I put my hand out, instinctively, to push it away. | I was riding, close to the kerb, along what is normally a quiet country A road in Kent. It was rush hour and the traffic was stop-start – I kept being overtaken by a large lorry, then catching it up again. Just before we came to a traffic island, it lurched towards me. I put my hand out, instinctively, to push it away. |
The next thing I remember was a spinning sensation, as if I was on a rollercoaster, then everything went dark. There was a deafening sound – the grating and clunking of metal – and I screamed. When the noise and the spinning stopped, I opened my eyes and found I was lying in the middle of the lane. Instead of being pushed off my bike on to the pavement, I had fallen the other way, underneath the lorry's wheels and into the road. | The next thing I remember was a spinning sensation, as if I was on a rollercoaster, then everything went dark. There was a deafening sound – the grating and clunking of metal – and I screamed. When the noise and the spinning stopped, I opened my eyes and found I was lying in the middle of the lane. Instead of being pushed off my bike on to the pavement, I had fallen the other way, underneath the lorry's wheels and into the road. |
At first, I thought I'd just fallen off my bike and felt a bit stupid. Then I realised nothing from my stomach down worked. I thought, "Oh, this is serious", but I managed to wiggle my toes which was a relief. The strangest thing was, I looked down at my legs and one was longer than the other, my hips at a funny angle. | At first, I thought I'd just fallen off my bike and felt a bit stupid. Then I realised nothing from my stomach down worked. I thought, "Oh, this is serious", but I managed to wiggle my toes which was a relief. The strangest thing was, I looked down at my legs and one was longer than the other, my hips at a funny angle. |
By now, a few people had gathered round me. They all looked so serious and I couldn't understand why. A man knelt with me and said, "We've phoned for an ambulance." I asked him for a cup of tea. The lorry driver was there and kept saying, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," and I said, "Don't worry – I'm fine." I must have been in shock. | By now, a few people had gathered round me. They all looked so serious and I couldn't understand why. A man knelt with me and said, "We've phoned for an ambulance." I asked him for a cup of tea. The lorry driver was there and kept saying, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," and I said, "Don't worry – I'm fine." I must have been in shock. |
Then, out of nowhere, the pain came. It was in the pelvic area and it was unimaginable. When the ambulance arrived and they lifted me on to the stretcher, I almost blacked out. I felt my bones grating and shifting. When they shut the door I clearly remember looking up at the blue sky and wondering if it might be the last time I saw it. | Then, out of nowhere, the pain came. It was in the pelvic area and it was unimaginable. When the ambulance arrived and they lifted me on to the stretcher, I almost blacked out. I felt my bones grating and shifting. When they shut the door I clearly remember looking up at the blue sky and wondering if it might be the last time I saw it. |
Things happened fast at the hospital. People asked me questions, my boyfriend arrived, and they gave me a CT scan. I had fractured my pelvis, a couple of ribs and my spine. I discovered later that the doctors were amazed it wasn't fractured more seriously, but I'd had a backpack on with Tupperware boxes filled with my lunch and they absorbed a lot of the impact. My helmet was pretty smashed up, too. | Things happened fast at the hospital. People asked me questions, my boyfriend arrived, and they gave me a CT scan. I had fractured my pelvis, a couple of ribs and my spine. I discovered later that the doctors were amazed it wasn't fractured more seriously, but I'd had a backpack on with Tupperware boxes filled with my lunch and they absorbed a lot of the impact. My helmet was pretty smashed up, too. |
I was quickly taken for an operation – apparently, with pelvic injuries, bleeding is a huge risk. When I woke up afterwards, I had metal pieces sticking out of my pelvis and a cage fixed around them. I couldn't move or sit up and when they rolled me over to wash me, it was agony. They gave me morphine, and lots of family arrived. | I was quickly taken for an operation – apparently, with pelvic injuries, bleeding is a huge risk. When I woke up afterwards, I had metal pieces sticking out of my pelvis and a cage fixed around them. I couldn't move or sit up and when they rolled me over to wash me, it was agony. They gave me morphine, and lots of family arrived. |
After a few days I was transferred to another hospital for a second operation. The surgeon filled me with bolts and screws to knit my pelvis back together. He showed me the x-ray afterwards – it looked like chain mail. He was really proud of his work. I started to have physio and made good progress. Four months later, I was pretty much walking again. | After a few days I was transferred to another hospital for a second operation. The surgeon filled me with bolts and screws to knit my pelvis back together. He showed me the x-ray afterwards – it looked like chain mail. He was really proud of his work. I started to have physio and made good progress. Four months later, I was pretty much walking again. |
Six years on, people can't believe I had such a horrific accident and am back to normal. I can sometimes feel the screws through my back, and if I have children, I'll have to have a caesarean because my birth canal won't open properly. But that's fine. I'm grateful to be alive and, day to day, appreciate everything more. | Six years on, people can't believe I had such a horrific accident and am back to normal. I can sometimes feel the screws through my back, and if I have children, I'll have to have a caesarean because my birth canal won't open properly. But that's fine. I'm grateful to be alive and, day to day, appreciate everything more. |
Looking back, I was a cautious cyclist. I never rode in the middle of the lane, confidently, like some people. I avoided the really busy roads and I often got off my bike at roundabouts and pushed it. I thought it made me safer. | Looking back, I was a cautious cyclist. I never rode in the middle of the lane, confidently, like some people. I avoided the really busy roads and I often got off my bike at roundabouts and pushed it. I thought it made me safer. |
I loved cycling – it was cheap, fun and gave me a healthy glow – but I don't do it any more. If Danish-style cycle lanes were built, separated from the road, then I definitely would, but for now I'll steer clear – I'd never forgive myself if I got knocked off again. | I loved cycling – it was cheap, fun and gave me a healthy glow – but I don't do it any more. If Danish-style cycle lanes were built, separated from the road, then I definitely would, but for now I'll steer clear – I'd never forgive myself if I got knocked off again. |
I hate driving to work, and that I've been forced into a car. But I have no choice: my accident made me realise it's actually very easy to die. | I hate driving to work, and that I've been forced into a car. But I have no choice: my accident made me realise it's actually very easy to die. |
• As told to Hannah Booth | • As told to Hannah Booth |
Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@guardian.co.uk | Do you have an experience to share? Email experience@guardian.co.uk |
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