Good Samaritan at Weston Turville

Struggling along the cycle path on my bike in wet and windy weather at about 6.30pm on October 31, in my hood, helmet and bright yellow PVC cycling cape, after a long day at work at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, I reached the dreaded stretch after the Weston Turville roundabout with no street lights, blinding oncoming traffic and spectacles with no wipers…!

I vaguely saw a shadow about a metre from me, and my very bright front light showed it was a pedestrian so I slowed right down but he walked across the path right in front of me with a dog on a leash who stayed on the other side. My front wheel got caught in the leash and I stopped…The man fell down, very unsteady on his feet, got up and fell several times. By then I realised he had had too many pints. In the beam of my front light, I saw his face was covered in blood, from a probable previous fall? As he tried to steady himself on my bike I could smell his breath and got blood on my cape. I said I would call 999, but he protested. I still tried, but could not hear nor see because of my hood, the traffic and the dark.

Just then, a good Samaritan stopped her car and offered help. Calling 999 she had the gentleman sit on the ground. She managed to stop the bleeding from the man’s forehead with her scarf. The ambulance arrived and took over.

I have had many near misses on this bit of road, but this was the worst. Are the authorities waiting for a serious accident?

Amber (is it your name?) from Weston Turville, you did a great job. It was so good of you to stop! I picked your scarf up, gave it a good delicate wash and a long airing. It is as good as new. Please contact me through Wendover News; it would be nice to chat in brighter circumstances!