Trauma Collision five minutes from home left cyclist in coma

A CYCLIST suffered life-threatening injuries after a collision with a car just five minutes from his home.

- Lorna HUGHES

Rafal Zuchowski suffered a brain injury and a host of fractures and tissue injuries after his bike ploughed into a car when the driver stopped suddenly.

The collision left the experienced cyclist in a coma and he endured a lengthy hospital stay as he battled to recover. He says he is still haunted by the effects of the crash, which continues to cast a shadow over his life.

Since the collision, on School Lane near Gloucester, Rafal continues to experience weakness on the right side of his body, and has been diagnosed with PTSD. The impact of his brain injury means he suffers with symptoms including fatigue, memory loss and anxiety.

His struggle to cope with his injuries also led to the breakdown of his relationship. Rafal, a Polish national who moved to the UK in 2008 and has settled in Gloucester, is now appealing for motorists to consider how vulnerable cyclists are.

He said: "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. A lot of the time on the roads, they probably feel scared for their life."