Kids save cyclist after freak crash leaves him with broken back and neck

A FATHER has told how he owes his life to his teenage son and his school friends who came to his aid after a freak cycling accident left him with horrific injuries.

• Fraser and Andy Duncan

Andy Duncan, 47, suffered three brain haemorrhages, a heart attack, a broken neck and back, and eight broken ribs as a result of the horror crash near his home in Broxburn, West Lothian.

Ironically, the accident happened after Mr Duncan had cycled after his son because he had gone off on a ride with friends without wearing his helmet.

Mr Duncan - who left his own helmet at home because he was "only going up the street" - was told he may never walk again but has made an incredible recovery.

Today he said he owed it all to the actions of son Fraser, 13, and his friends Stuart Anderson, and brother and sister Charlie and Lucy Finlayson.

Mr Duncan, who was in a coma for two weeks and has no recollection of the accident, said: "It was a combination of the four kids who worked together as a good team that saved my life. Stuart was fantastic. He was the main factor in my recovery. I do appreciate that I'm a very lucky man.

"The kids will never forget what they went through. I would like to say as big a thank you as I can to them all. What they did saved my life."

The Broxburn Academy pupils were honoured for saving Mr Duncan's life at the school's recent prize-giving, where they were presented with Head Teacher Bravery and Citizenship Awards.

The drama happened during the summer holidays last year when Fraser and his friends set off to cycle at the nearby Greendykes coal bing.

Noticing Fraser had left his helmet behind, Mr Duncan jumped on his own bike to deliver it and found the group.

On his way back, he hit a ravine at speed while travelling down a hill, throwing him across the handlebars and causing him to fall 10ft, practically landing at his son's feet. He hit his head and was knocked unconscious.

He was airlifted to hospital but his injuries were so severe that his heart stopped beating twice and he had to be resuscitated.

As well as facial injuries and serious internal damage, at one point surgeons thought his right arm may have to be amputated.

The Edinburgh-based project manager with Mott MacDonald spent almost ten weeks in hospital following the accident on August 3 last year.

Amazingly, he defied doctors and was walking again within five weeks.

Fraser, a second year pupil, said: "We were going over a few hills and bumps and my dad went down a hill and fell over the top of his handlebar.

His head was all covered in blood and it was going down his face. It wasn't very nice."

Fraser added: "I was just trying to keep calm but it was scary."

Fraser's friend Stuart, 15, had recently been trained in first aid at the time of the accident and checked for a pulse before using Mr Duncan's phone to call his wife, Linda, 49, and an ambulance.

He said: "I knew that moving him would be a bad idea, there was blood everywhere - you could hardly see any skin on his face."

In the meantime, Charlie, 15, and Lucy, 13, went to get help at nearby cottages and returned with a man who put a towel on some of Mr Duncan's wounds. They also guided the emergency services to the remote spot where the accident happened.

Mr Duncan said: "I wasn't wearing a helmet, I thought ‘I'm only going up the street, I will be fine', but that day would have been one of the best days to have a helmet on."

[email protected]