Cyclist lucky to be alive in crash drama

Stave Garrill fractured his pelvis and skull when he was knocked of his bike in St Annes.

Steve Garrill, head of ICT at St Bede’s Catholic High School in Lytham, faces spending six weeks in hospital after fracturing his pelvis and skull.

He was cycling back to his Blackpool home after an inset day at the school when he was caught up in a collision at the junction of King Edward Avenue and Clifton Drive South, St Annes.

Speaking from his hospital bed, he told The Gazette he has a limited recollection of the crash.

The junction of Clifton Drive South and King Edward Avenue, where teacher Steve Garrill was knocked off his bike.

Mr Garrill said: “I was pedalling along when a car was spun into me. My head dented the windscreen before I was somersaulted over a wall.

“I just remember a static image of a car coming at me from a 45-degree angle, no sound. I came round on my back surrounded by people, wiggled my toes and told them that I thought I was okay if they could put me in a more comfortable position.

“I was lucky to get away with small skull fracture and three fractures to my pelvis.”

Despite his agony, Mr Garrill, a published author who lives in South Shore, said he has been enjoying his “banter” with the staff at Royal Preston Hospital, where he has been laid up since the accident on September 2.

Police continue to investigate the incident, which happened at around 5.55pm.

Although it is still unclear what caused the crash that sent a car flying into Mr Garrill’s bike, he said he hopes his story will make other drivers take extra care on the roads.

He added: “I feel no vindictiveness and see this as a life-changing incident in a positive way.

“It has given me time to reevaluate my life, reassess my priorities and appreciate life and friendships. If one accident is prevented by the publicity it will certainly be worth it.

“I am overwhelmed by the messages and support I have had from all the staff at Saint Bede’s in Lytham – the sense of caring and community is absolutely unbelievable.”

Despite painful setbacks that have left him “in agony and hallucinating”, doctors say Mr Garrill is making good progress, although he expects it will be weeks before he can go home yet. He praised the “kind and caring” hospital staff who have treated him since the accident.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: “At 5.55pm on September 2, we were called to a collision involving a cyclist, a silver Ford Transit van and a blue Toyota Prius. A road closure was in place and the cyclist was taken to Royal Preston Hospital, where he received nine stitches to his face.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident should call police on 101.