No-one helps injured cyclist (From Stroud News and Journal)

No-one helps injured cyclist

A CYCLIST was ignored by dozens of motorists as he lay at the side of the road bleeding and dazed after an accident - and even claims a police car went by without stopping.

Nailsworth resident Oliver Mead, 20, nursed a severely damaged hand for 10 minutes as rush hour traffic picked its way past and is convinced he saw a police patrol car roll by.

"I wasn't too impressed," he told the SNJ. "At first I tried to get back on the bike and realised I was about to pass out.

"I was just sitting against the wall in obvious pain holding out a hand that was dripping with blood and all the cars were just driving around me.

"I can just about remember seeing a police car driving past me too."

He came off his bike near Egypt Mill at around 5pm last Tuesday after fumbling with a T-shirt on the handlebars, mangling one hand and grazing his shoulders and back.

He rang a friend to pick him up, but added that a woman had stopped just as his friend arrived - but only after scores of motorists had driven past.

A logistics co-ordinator for a catering company, Mr Mead will now be off work for at least six to eight weeks after breaking his hand in four places.

Nailsworth vicar Rev Stephen Earley said he was sad at the absence of a Good Samaritan for the stricken young man.

He said: "It is very similar to the story of the Good Samaritan and it is a shame that somebody he didn't think would stop did not come to his aid - that would have completed the parable.

"I cannot understand that reaction, especially so near to Live 8, which showed a lot of compassion for others and gives a lot of hope for the future.

"In the light of all that it is very sad."

Police spokesman Marie Watton said she would have to investigate which cars were on patrol in the area - but found it hard to believe a patrol car would not have stopped.

She said: "I think it would be very unlikely that a patrolling unit would have driven past a person who was bleeding and not stopped."