A cyclist who crashed into a tree during July’s Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 sportive died in hospital three weeks later without ever gaining consciousness, it has been revealed.
The event on Sunday 31 July was rerouted while medical personnel treated Richard Kell, aged 71, at the roadside before he was airlifted to St George’s Hospital in Tooting.
> Cyclist seriously injured after hitting tree during RideLondon sportive
Mr Kell, from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, spent three weeks in a coma there before his life support machine was switched off.
His wife Hillary told the Oxford Mail: "He was such a happy person. He loved his cycling and loved his family.
"I just can't imagine life without him – he was so full of life. It was a tragic accident."
The crash took place between Pyrford and Ripley in Surrey, about 40 miles into the event.
Mr Kell’s daughter, Sarah, was told about what had happened to him as she waited to start the shorter 46-mile ride that was introduced this year.
She had spent the previous day in London with her father, who was looking forward to riding the 100-mile event he had already completed in 2015.
Mr Kell was one of two cyclists who died after taking part in this year’s event, with Robin Chard from Bicester, Oxfordshire, sustaining a cardiac arrest and later passing away in Kingston Hospital.
More than £66,000 has now been raised in Mr Chard’s memory for Cancer Research UK via his Just Giving page.
> Donations made in memory of RideLondon cyclist and cancer survivor
Here here. It takes your safety into your own hands. Beep me all you want you can get past when it is safe.
All this stuff about replica kit amazes me- I never have, and never would, wear any but who cares about what other people wear except when it's a...
I just discovered one of those in the shed. In good condition too. Thinking of converting the bulb to an LED and running it for the retro vibes...
Why do you need to do any of those things?...
If you are of the opinion that your brain would not have been affected by your skull hitting the ground unprotected, rather than this helmet taking...
As with the Castelli Sfidas, it's probably to do with sizing… Though maybe a bit of shaping too.
Fortunately (?) its too damn cold for this to be a significant issue presently. Perhaps when it gets a little bit warmer and drier I will simply...
To be fair, the city centre is dead at the moment. This is clearly a bigger problem with the software they're using, and workers rights in general,...
I rode a route with my wife in the New Forest some years ago and the main problem we had was initially finding the trail as it was poorly signed. A...
Must try harder. Fair play to the water company, I reported it when I got back this morning and they'd been to investigate within a couple of hours...