A cyclist from Iwade made the brave decision to get back in the saddle just 12 weeks after an accident left him with life-threatening injuries.

Tom Kennison was racing at the Lee Valley VeloPark, London’s Olympic velodrome, when another rider collided with him.

As a result, the 22-year-old was thrown over the side of the track and into the stands, where he landed so hard it severed the artery to his left kidney, which he has since lost the use of.

He suffered a punctured lung, broke his back, cheekbone and four ribs in February’s accident during a Full Gas cycling event.

The draughtsman, who works at McNealy Brown in Sittingbourne, said: “I remember seeing another rider sliding on the floor towards me – I tried to avoid him but everything went black and the next thing I know I’m waking up on the other side of the barrier where the seating was.

"It’s a bit of a haze but I think the air ambulance were first on the scene and they put a tube in my chest to drain my lungs of fluid.”

Tom, who has been racing seriously for the past six years, spent four days in intensive care at the Royal London Hospital.

He said: “All I kept thinking while I was in hospital was that I never wanted to race again – I was seriously put off by it all.

“I had broken bones before, but this was by far the worst accident I have ever been in.” The crash was so horrific, the corner where Tom crashed was later dubbed Kennison’s Curve by commentators on Eurosport.

Tom, of Pintail Drive, is a member of the Medway Velo Cycling Club and has received messages of support from professional riders such as Olympic gold medallist Danielle King and national track champion Adam Blythe.

It took him six weeks before he found the courage to sit on a saddle of an exercise bike. But 12 weeks to the day of his accident, Tom took part in a 10-mile time trial last week.

He also competed in a race at Betteshanger Country Park near Deal, riding 50km in one hour and eight minutes.

He said: “I was watching my dad race alongside team-mates while on crutches and realised I missed it. I’m still a bit nervous about racing again, but it’s my life really, and it would be difficult to leave it all behind.”