Bike horror OAP's organs set to change three lives

THE family of a cyclist knocked off her bike after visiting her grandchildren have spoken of their comfort that her organs are expected to enhance the lives of three other people in the hours to come.

• Audrey Fyfe cycled 100 miles every week

Audrey Fyfe's life support machine is expected to be turned off, after she suffered severe head injuries when she was clipped by a car in Portobello Road on Tuesday evening.

The 75-year-old, who rode 100 miles per week with a local club, was cycling back to her bungalow in Joppa from visiting her daughter Linda and her grandchildren at their home in Restalrig when the incident took place at around 6.40pm.

Audrey's husband Ian, 79, and daughters Aileen, 46, and Linda, stayed with her at the Western General throughout Tuesday night as doctors attempted to stop bleeding in her brain, but her injuries were too severe.

Doctors are now searching for patients who could benefit from the retired Portobello High classroom assistant's liver, kidneys and corneas.

They will turn off the life-support machines minutes before a transfer is made.

Aileen, an underwriter for a life insurance firm, travelled from Bristol to be by her mother's bedside early yesterday morning.

"She's a lifelong cyclist and she's always been so fit," she said. "You wouldn't think she was 75 to look at her.

"She's always been keen to ensure that her organs could be used to help someone else.

"Because she was so healthy her organs could help others, and at this stage they are only keeping her alive until they can find recipients for her organs."

Husband Ian, who worked in a railway control office before retiring, said: "As soon as the police came to the door around 8pm they made it clear that she was very serious.

"When we got to the hospital she was lying there with tubes attached to her, keeping her going.

"At first they did plan to operate but it became clear there wasn't anything that could be done.

"She had been taking medication to thin her blood and this made the bleeding in her brain much more rapid.

"We stayed with her all night and said our goodbyes."

Ian said: "We were looking forward to a trip to Portugal. We had a house booked for two weeks, then we were going to see about a cycling tour.

"She had a hip replacement in January and since then she had been so active."

Aileen said: "Just last summer she and I drove to France for a cycling festival. It was just the two of us, and 15,000 other cyclists. We enjoyed it a lot.

"My mum was well known by everyone and was closely involved with the local cycling club. It really is a great loss to everyone who knew her."

Police are still appealing for any witnesses to contact them on 0131-311 3131.