Cyclists suffer identical injuries in horror crashes
Graham Gibson • Published 25 Sep 2010 09:30
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CYCLING is proving a Fairley dangerous pastime for two cyclists who share the same name and who suffered identical injuries in two separate horror crashes within two weeks.
Dalgety Bay’s Stuart Fairley received a broken collarbone after the keen cyclist landed on his head when a locked wheel flung him over his bike’s handlebars.
And in an amazing twist, another Stewart Fairley, from Winchburgh, West Lothian, suffered the exact same injury only a couple of days earlier after crashing off his bike at 37mph.
Stuart said, “The fact we’re both cyclists who fell off within a couple of days of each other and ended up with the same injury, it’s just really bizarre.”
Stewart concurred, “It was a very strange coincidence, very spooky. Lets hope there’s not a third cyclist out there with the same name.”
Even more coincidental is the fact both cyclists were travelling on new bikes and it was the first time either had been in a serious crash.
Stuart, of Inchmickery Avenue, suffered his injury while riding with workmates on an Edinburgh cycle path between Barnton and Murrayfield.
He said, “One minute I was cycling along then it felt like the bike hit something massive in the middle of the path and I went flying over the handlebars.
"The hub that governs the wheel rotating froze, causing the front wheel to stop dead.”
Winchburgh’s Stewart was enjoying a 50-mile run with friends on his brand new bike but, when he tried to test it on a downhill stretch just outside Falkirk, he was caught unawares by a tight right-hand bend.
Stewart said, “I was going downhill pretty fast, about 37mph, and the corner was tighter than I thought at the bottom.
"I locked the bike up and it threw me right off. I ended up tumbling 30 feet down the road.”
Both men agree that without their helmets they would probably not be here today.
Stuart said, “My head was okay due to the helmet taking the brunt of impact.
"We were both on relatively new bikes so it shows you what can happen and that’s taught me a lesson to always wear a helmet.”
Stewart added, “My helmet definitely saved my life.
"My helmet split and I was taken to Stirling Hospital where it was found I had concussion, a broken collarbone, damaged ligaments, bruised kidneys and a pulled hamstring.
"Paramedics said I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have a helmet.”
The two men learned of each other’s accident through a cycling forum and the pair could be set to meet up for a more gentle cycle ride once their injuries heal.
Stuart said, “I do a lot of organised events and we have a cyclist networking group for the Dalgety Bay area, the Forth Bay Wheelers, so it would be nice to get Stewart along or to go visit him.”
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Smurf
Unregistered User
Sep 26, 22:55
Report commentGreat news story, what a headline grabber. What next, two people who look identical apart from looking slightly different step dog crap in different towns, just hours apart. Jesus
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Braveheart
Unregistered User
Sep 29, 15:16
Report commentCome on Lads give us a laugh have a go on a tandem !!!!!
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