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Paralympic champion cyclist Simon Richardson in critical condition following hit-and-run incident

Beijing double gold medallist hit by van on A48 yesterday morning; 59-year-old man arrested later

Paralympic champion cyclist Simon Richardson is in a critical but stable condition in hospital after suffering multiple injuries following a hit-and-run incident involving a van near Bridgend.

The 44-year-old, winner of two golds and a silver medal at Beijing in 2008, was thrown from his bike in the incident, which took place at 0940 yesterday morning on the A48 at Crack Hill House and was airlifted to University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, reports BBC News.

South Wales Police have arrested a 59-year-old man in connection with the incident, which was followed by a second crash at the same location while paramedics were treating Richardson, resulting in a 74-year-old woman being treated for chest injuries.

Police are appealing for witnesses who saw the incident or who may have seen a small white van leaving the scene and heading towards Cowbridge, as well as anyone who may have stopped to give help but did not leave their details.

Richardson, who comes from Porthcawl, was seriously injured in 2001 after he was struck by a car while out cycling on a club run, with the accident leaving him with no feeling on his left side.

In 2005, doctors persuaded him to start cycling again as part of his rehabilitation, and the following year who was racing for Wales on an adapted bike, powered by his right leg.

At Beijing, he won gold in LC 3–4 class kilo with a world record time of 1 minute 14.936 seconds. He subsequently added a second gold medal in the LC3–4 3km individual pursuit, and also took silver in the LC3 class road time trial.

Phil Jones, of Brother UK, which sponsors Richardson, told BBC Wales that he had spoken to the cyclist’s wife, who said that his condition was “critcal but stable".

His injuries include multiple fractures of the spine and a broken pelvis and breast bone, while only one of his lungs is working.

Mr Jones added: "There is quite a big community of people who know Simon and know of his achievement. There's a real sense of support for Simon."

He said that Richardson had been due to try out a new time-trial bike as part of his efforts to qualify for London 2012.

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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10 comments

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Dutchie | 12 years ago
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Being knocked of by a car and badly injured TWICE... indeed life isn't fair. Wishing Simon a good recovery, hopefully with less lasting damage this time  2

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shaun finnis | 12 years ago
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In this day and age fortunately the crime is getting caught on camera, so for all those who think they can do a runner. look out the police will find you and lets start to clamp down with harsher sentences!

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RouleurTwo | 12 years ago
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No. They don't "just happen." They happen for a reason. Often that reason is carelessness, inattentiveness, impatience, stupidity or rarely out and out malice. All of us see it on a daily basis.
I hope that this poor man stands a chance of recovery to something approaching normal life and that the driver is punished very severely. I very much doubt the latter and hope against hope for the former.

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racingcondor replied to RouleurTwo | 12 years ago
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RouleurTwo wrote:

No. They don't "just happen".

Couldn't agree more. What I will never understand is how leaving the scene of an accident isn't an immediate disqualification and £1,000+ fine. It screams 'I've got something to hide'.

Recover well Simon.

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Municipal Waste | 12 years ago
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It's things like this that cross my mind every time I set off to work in the morning  22 it's time for a radical change in attitude in this country!

What's more, if the driver had stopped and it had just been an accident then probably he wouldn't have gotten punished at all as these things sometimes just happen. But because of driving off they should be put away!

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Matt_S | 12 years ago
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"White van in hit and run incident" - We're nearly to the point where this is no longer news.

No doubt the "White van driver given £20 fine and box of chocolates for nearly killing cyclist in hit and run incident while on the phone, reading the Sun, and drinking a can of Stella" story will be posted here on road.cc in a few months time.

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stuartpeck1 replied to Matt_S | 12 years ago
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Matt_S wrote:

"White van in hit and run incident" - We're nearly to the point where this is no longer news.

No doubt the "White van driver given £20 fine and box of chocolates for nearly killing cyclist in hit and run incident while on the phone, reading the Sun, and drinking a can of Stella" story will be posted here on road.cc in a few months time.

Hmmm, anyway lets wish him a speedy and full recovery

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Matt_S replied to stuartpeck1 | 12 years ago
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stuartpeck1 wrote:

Hmmm, anyway lets wish him a speedy and full recovery

Absolutely.

Maybe my sarcasm didn't come across. What I meant was; there'll be a totally laughable sentence dished out. And another person who ruins someone's life will be let off scott free as they did it driving a car - a right that seemingly can't be taken away with a lifetime ban, it seems.. If the police even bother trying to locate the driver, that is.

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Simon E | 12 years ago
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Sad news. Life just isn't fair sometimes  2

Get well Simon.

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greggyr | 12 years ago
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Jeez, I wish Simon a speedy recovery

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