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Cyclist needs help recalling accident in Wateringbury

A cyclist, who cannot remember an accident he was involved in, is appealing to the public for help.

Ian Deal, 68, had been out for a ride and was cycling eastwards on the footpath of the A26 Tonbridge Road travelling towards his home in Wateringbury.

Ian Deal and his bike, wearing the clothes he wore on the day of the accident
Ian Deal and his bike, wearing the clothes he wore on the day of the accident

He said: "I remember I was on the footpath because the road was extremely busy. It was also raining quite hard.

"Then the next thing I remember is arriving home in Upper Mill on foot with an undamaged bicycle but a broken crash helmet, cuts to my legs and a sore neck.

"I asked my wife Gail, 'Who's is that car on the driveway?' - it was her car which I hadn't even recognised.

"I was suffering memory loss and I couldn't even tell her what we had done the day before - though in fact we had celebrated her birthday."

Mrs Deal immediately drove him to Maidstone Hospital's A&E, where he had MRI and CT scans and was kept on a ward for 48 hours for observation and tests.

Parts of the broken wing mirror recovered from the road side
Parts of the broken wing mirror recovered from the road side

Fortunately he seems to have suffered no permanent harm, though his neck is still sore.

He said: "After a got home, I had a close look at my helmet and saw it had suffered a heavy impact on the right-hand side."

A walk along Tonbridge Road then revealed pieces of a shattered lorry wing mirror on the verge.

Mr Deal said: "I'm 6ft 5in, so I guess on a bike my head would be about the height of a lorry wing mirror."

His conclusion is that he was struck by a wing mirror, but he said: "I've no idea whether it was a hit and run or whether the driver stopped and asked if I was all right and I told him yes."

Ian Deal's helmet is split at the back
Ian Deal's helmet is split at the back

"I'd really like to know what happened because I still can't remember."

The incident took place at round 5.15pm on Wednesday, September 30.

Anyone who saw the incident can contact Mr Deal by email to ian.deal@btconnect.com

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