A WHEELCHAIR-bound Inverkeithing man who suffered a life-changing cycling accident is hoping to teach school kids the importance of wearing a helmet.

Chris Macdonald (42), of Spittalfield Crescent, crashed his bike in 2008 cycling home from picking up a pedometer he had forgotten.

Little did the ex-bouncer know this one journey he failed to wear his helmet on would render him unable to walk forever.

Chris said, “If I can help kids or anybody to learn the real importance of wearing a cycle helmet the better.

“I am the proof of what can happen if people don’t.

“On 29th June 2008 at around 6.30pm I crashed my bike.

“I left Rosyth to go home and I had to go back because I had forgotten a pedometer I had bought to record how many steps I took in a day.

“I realised that I never had my helmet on when I was into my journey. I would normally always wear it but I thought sod it – it’s just a quick journey.

“Now when I look back it would have only taken five more minutes to return to my house and get it.

“I was on my way home and going around 40mph – when I got to a roundabout my back wheel started spinning.

“I could see the kerb and I thought this is going to really hurt. That was the last thing that I could remember of the crash.

“PC Paul Dykes woke me up, I do remember that, and said I was alright – but I couldn’t feel my legs.

“Next thing I know was I was in the ambulance on my way to Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital to the spinal unit.

“I was paralysed for three weeks and then was in physiotherapy to get my walking back on track for two weeks.

"I came home and after seven days I fell flat and was in crutches for four-and-a-half years. My ability to stand and walk deteriorated and now I am in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.

“The doctors told me that I would have suffered far less injuries if I had my helmet on – however, I know if it wasn’t for the amount of plant pots I crashed into my head would have gone straight into a sign and I probably wouldn’t be here.

"I like to take the attitude of just getting on with things – I do miss working and sometimes I go to do something which I think I can but then I realise I can’t.

“I just want to teach kids to wear their helmet to keep them safe – most have listened to me so far.” Chris has taken it on himself to teach kids he comes across when out and about without their helmets on.

He hopes to further his teaching by speaking to school pupils about the dangers of cycling helmet-free.

Alice McGarry, councillor for Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay, said, “I have spoken with Chris about going into schools to teach kids and I think it is a great idea.

“It is all about catching them early and teaching them to wear helmets because then kids get into the habit of wearing it.

“It was such a tragic accident that Chris experienced which on the face of it was quite a simple accident.

“I have written to the head of service and he welcomes the idea so hopefully he will be able to talk to kids in local schools.”