Cyclist calls for urgent repairs to Bristol and Bath Railway path after coma crash
A cyclist who spent ten days in a coma after hitting tree-root-damaged tarmac on the Bristol and Bath Railway path is calling for urgent repairs at Siston Common.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A cyclist who was left in a coma for ten days after a crash on the Bristol and Bath Railway path is calling for urgent repairs to the route. The crash happened at Siston Common, where tree roots have forced up the tarmac.
The affected stretch is on a blind bend downhill. Cyclists approach with momentum and then hit the uneven surface. The cyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered a brain haemorrhage and broken ribs. He said he remembers hitting the roots and falling, then being picked up by someone who called an ambulance. He spent ten days in a coma.
The path is a 13-mile route and is used for between one and three million journeys a year. Other cyclists have also been hurt there. One mother reported that her daughter came off her scooter at the same spot in 2020 and needed stitches on her chin. A few weeks ago, another cyclist fell and broke her jaw in three places, also knocking out teeth.
Those calling for repairs warned that the path is almost the only fully traffic-free cycling route available and is a huge asset. The message to the local council was to take the infrastructure seriously and think about its users, particularly as winter approaches.
The council was not available for interview. In a statement, it wished the cyclist a full and speedy recovery. It said that after the crash it inspected the area and installed warning signs. It added that work at the location will be carried out as soon as possible.
The cyclist faces a long recovery and it will be some time before he can ride again.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| A cyclist on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path hit uneven ground caused by large tree roots. | |
| The council inspected the site and installed warning signs after the crash. | |
| The cyclist was not wearing a helmet and suffered a brain haemorrhage, broken ribs and a ten-day coma. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report leads on the human cost of the crash, detailing the cyclist's coma and injuries before widening to safety concerns at Siston Common. It uses other cyclists' accounts to present the spot as an accident black spot and puts pressure on the council by noting it was not available for interview. The tone is sympathetic to the injured cyclist and treats the path as important traffic-free infrastructure.
- “I don't remember anything but I hit these roots and I fell, I hit my head and I must have lost conscience. So someone picked me up. They called an ambulance. I was in a coma for ten days.”
- “It shouldn't take accidents to have to fix key arteries or key roots like this.”
- “we wish them a full and speedy recovery. Following this, we inspected the area and installed warning signs.”
Broadcast Timeline
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