Sir Richard Branson has credited his cycling helmet for saving his life after a cycling accident on the British Virgin Islands.
The businessman was cycling with his two grown up children on the Islands when he hit a hump in the road. He said he was left thinking he would die but was only saved because he was wearing a helmet.
He said: "I was heading down a hill towards Leverick Bay when it suddenly got really dark and I managed to hit a ‘sleeping policeman’ hump in the road head on. The next thing I knew, I was being hurled over the handlebars and my life was literally flashing before my eyes. I really thought I was going to die. I went flying head-first towards the concrete road, but fortunately my shoulder and cheek took the brunt of the impact.
“I was wearing a helmet that saved my life.”
Peter McCabe, Chief Executive of Headway, said the accident reinforces the need for all cyclists to wear helmets. He said: “I would like to extend my best wishes to Sir Richard and wish him a speedy recovery.
“I am extremely pleased to hear that he was wearing a helmet – as I would suggest are his family and friends. Had he not been, the outcome could have been devastating.
“Headway has long campaigned to encourage cyclists of all ages and experience to wear helmets. The evidence is clear: helmets save lives and can prevent lifelong disability. We hope that some good can come from this accident by other cyclists taking a similar safety-first approach.
“To all, we say please use your head – use a helmet.”
For more information, visit our cycle helmet campaign page.
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