A CYCLIST from Kenilworth feared for his life when he found himself underneath a reversing lorry.
Sam Vernon was taking part in the Coast to Coast cycle ride in Cumbria with friends when an HGV pulled across the road in front of him.
The father-of-two was travelling about 20mph on the main road to Kendal when he realised the lorry driver had not seen him approaching. He pulled on the brakes to avoid a collision, flew over the handlebars and slid underneath the lorry.
The 42 year-old hit his head on a tank under the lorry and credits much of his survival to his helmet taking the brunt of the impact.
The lorry driver realised something had collided with him and began to reverse, with Sam still between the wheels.
He told the Observer βI thought, if I don’t move now, I’m dead.β
Despite hitting his head and injuring one of his arms when he hit the tarmac, Sam managed to escape from the oncoming wheels and get out from under the lorry.
By chance a policewoman and first-aid team just happened to be in a lay-by on the other side and saw what happened and rushed to Sam’s aid.
Fortunately he escaped with just a broken wrist and a few bruises.
He said: βIt felt like I’d done my shoulder, collar bone and wrist. The bones are fragmented in my wrist so I’ve had five wires put in to keep it all together.β
The driver of the Lithuanian lorry has been reported to Cumbria Police for driving with undue care and attention.
The Coast to Coast ride covers 150 miles from Seascale in Cumbria to Whitby in North Yorkshire and is popular with cyclists.
Last year, Sam cycled the same route to raise money for Myton Hospice and said his latest experience will not put him off from doing the ride again in the future.
