A cyclist who was left unconscious when he was knocked off his bike by an elderly motorist whom he had earlier told to look out for bike riders has lodged a complaint after a paramedic left him at the roadside, telling him to go home and rest.
Tim Stirrup says he was unconscious for around 15 minutes after the incident last Wednesday afternoon near Perry Green, Hertfordshire, reports the Herts & Essex Observer.
He called the emergency services when he came round, and a paramedic arrived in a rapid response vehicle who spent 20 minutes checking the 52-year-old, before telling him to go home and rest.
A friend drove him home, but later that evening Mr Stirrup had to go to Harlow’s Princess Alexandra Hospital because of a worsening headache and pain in his neck and shoulder, which turned out to be broken.
He was also diagnosed with concussion, and has made a formal complaint to the East of England Ambulance Service about his treatment by the paramedic.
"What I want to know is whether this is normal practice with a head injury,” he told the newspaper. “I'm shocked that I was left by the side of the road.
"I just remember a big bang. I got completely knocked out. All I remember is coming round on a grass verge. I couldn't see anything at all, everything was black, and I could just hear voices talking to me after I came around."
Shortly before he was knocked off his bike, Mr Stirrup had a word with the motorist who later struck him.
"I was cycling back towards Bishop's Stortford and I saw this elderly couple pulling out of a car park,” he said.
"I always wear a helmet when I'm on the bike and if I can't see a driver's eyes then I just stop.
"I could see that this elderly couple hadn't seen me coming so I stopped and pulled up beside them to politely tell them they had to be careful of cyclists.”
A mile and a half later, it was the same motorist who was driving the car involved in the collision.
A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 3.09pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving a cyclist in Perry Green. A rapid response vehicle attended the scene and treated a man who was believed to be in his 50s.
“He was conscious and breathing. He was treated for what was believed to be a minor head injury.
"We were on the scene for just over 20 minutes and a thorough assessment was made and the patient was discharged.
"As the patient has made a formal complaint it will be investigated and we will get back to the patient once the investigation is complete," he added.
