Cyclist who was knocked out for 15 minutes in a horror smash with car told to pedal five miles home by medic
Dad-of-three 'left at scene with only his bike and destroyed helmet'
A CYCLIST who was knocked unconscious and broke a shoulder in a collision with a car has claimed a paramedic told him to get back on his bike and make the five mile journey home.
Tim Stirrup, 52, was unconscious for 15 minutes after his helmet smashed apart when he was hit by a car, but despite this he said a paramedic told him to "go home".
Dad-of-three Tim said: "I was cycling when I saw this elderly couple pulling out of a car park.
"I always wear a helmet when I'm on the bike and if I can't see a driver's eyes then I just stop.
"I could see that this elderly couple hadn't seen me coming so I stopped and pulled up beside them to politely tell them they had to be careful of cyclists.
"I just remember a big bang. I got completely knocked out.
"All I remember is coming round on a grass verge. I couldn't see anything at all, everything was black and I could just hear voices talking to me after I came around."
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Tim, chief executive of online maths education system Mathspace UK, said he felt "hazy" after the crash in Perry Green, Herts, at about 2.15pm last Wednesday.
He said he was forced to call friends to give him a lift home after being abandoned by emergency services at the scene.
When pain in his head, neck and shoulder worsened he went to A&E where doctors put him in a neck brace and head supports before doing an X-ray and CT scan.
He was eventually told he had not done major harm to his head or neck and was discharged at about 3pm the following day.
Tim has since lodged a formal complaint with the East of England Ambulance Service.
He said: "What I want to know is whether this is normal practice with a head injury.
"I'm shocked that I was left by the side of the road."
Following the crash Tim said he suffered with nausea and continues to have headaches, although they are becoming less severe over time.
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called at 3.09pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving a cyclist in Perry Green.
"A rapid response vehicle attended the scene and treated a man who was believed to be in his 50s. He was conscious and breathing.
"He was treated for what was believed to be a minor head injury.
"We were on the scene for just over 20 minutes and a thorough assessment was made and the patient was discharged."
He added: "As the patient has made a formal complaint it will be investigated and we will get back to the patient once the investigation is complete."
A Herts Constabulary spokeswoman confirmed that police were called at 2.33pm.
Tim would also like to a man who stopped and helped him. He said: "I would like to be able to stay but I have to get to a funeral.";