POLICE are today investigating a suspected hit-and-run incident that left a cyclist seriously hurt. Guernsey Press reporter Tom Bradshaw, 27, is recovering in hospital after needing ear reconstruction surgery and suffering nasty facial injuries and a broken wrist in an incident at about 3am on Saturday at Le Val des Terres.
But it remains a mystery how he came to sustain the injuries or why nobody saw him semi-consciously making his way home to Phoenix Way, Admiral Park - about two miles away.
‘I’m surprised that no one noticed the state I was in and stopped to help,’ he said.
The regular cyclist was travelling home with lights on his red-and-silver mountain bike from a barbecue at a friend’s house near Les Douvres Hotel, St Martin’s, when he said his cycle was hit.
‘It was a fairly hard impact and I ripped half my ear off and have holes in my face.
‘I think I must have lost consciousness. My first memory is I came round in Colborne Road and I remember putting my hand up to my face and it was covered in blood. I went to get my mobile phone but realised I did not have it.’
Badly concussed, he started walking home.
Both wheels of his bike were buckled and the front tyre was mangled.
When he finally arrived home at about 4.30am, he tried to explain to his girlfriend, Hayley Gaudion, 26, what had happened, but his memory was vague.
‘I got home in a taxi about 3.30 - he had ridden off a quarter of an hour before me and gave himself a headstart and said he would see me at home,’ she said.
‘I had a gut feeling something had happened - I knew as soon as I did not see his bike. He had given me his mobile earlier and I waited and prayed he would come. About 4.30 I heard some steps coming up and opened the door.
‘My first reaction was, thank God he is alive - I was so grateful to know he was in the house. Not knowing where he was, it was awful.
‘The next reaction was, I have got to get him sorted - he was pouring with blood.
Miss Gaudion said he was very incoherent and concussed.
‘He mentioned a car and about squealing of brakes. I could not get from him whether he was hit by a car.
‘All I wanted to do was stem the blood. We went up to A and E - he looked absolutely awful. The whole of his face was a complete mess and he looked like he had a hole in his cheek. He was in a very bad way.
‘It’s been the worst 24 hours of my life.’
The couple had spent the night with friends and had stayed up chatting until late.
‘When he left, I had complete confidence in his ability to cycle home. I would never in a million years have let him cycle home if I thought he couldn’t.’
Miss Gaudion said that after interviewing him in hospital, police took away his bike and shoes for testing.
Mr Bradshaw is hoping to be released from hospital later today.
‘The extent of the injuries is pretty bad. Cycling is my only mode of transport and I would be surprised if I had caused the accident,’ he said.
‘I have had ups and downs today and I was in a lot of pain and very nauseous but I’m feeling progressively better. Over the course of the day, the pain is getting a bit more comfortable.’
‘I have been looked after very well and have been heartened by how many friends I have had visiting me and appreciate the enormous support,’ he said.
It is unlikely that Mr Bradshaw, who runs the newspaper’s business pages, will be able to return to work for a fortnight.
A musician, he also missed three gigs with his band, Schema, at the Rocquaine Regatta, Terrace Cafe and Half Moon Cafe on Saturday as a result of the incident.
* Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 725111 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
Article posted on 6th August, 2007 - 12.00am
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