North Yorkshire cyclist shares picture of battered helmet which saved her life after being hit by a car

Fiona Illingworth says she is "lucky to be alive" after she was hit by a car on a road between Malton and Easingwold.

Ms Illingworth had to be airlifted to hospital following the collision eight months ago, suffering three cracked ribs, a permanent facial scar and numerous cuts and bruises. She also lost two front teeth and still suffers from concussion due to a serious head injury.

But despite this, Ms Illingworth, from Hambleton, has managed to recover and is now sharing the pictures of the impact damage to her cycling helmet from the collision to remind cyclists of the importance of wearing one.

“Issues with my balance have meant that I struggle to ride a bike and I’m lucky if I can do 20 miles these days," she said.

“But I was determined to get back on a bike.”

She added: “I was genuinely shocked when I saw the bashing my helmet had sustained: that could have been my skull. If I’d not been wearing a helmet, I know for sure I would not be here to tell the tale.

“I’ve shared my story because I can. Think about it. If you are going out on a bike … no matter how short a journey, no matter how confident or indestructible you feel, please wear a helmet!”

There have been 230 reported collisions involving cyclists in North Yorkshire in the past year. Forty six have involved serious injuries needing hospital treatment and, sadly, there have been four fatalities.

Almost 70 of those collisions have happened since lockdown began in late March.

North Yorkshire Police believes the recent collisions are due to a combination of factors including more people choosing to take up cycling, more inexperienced riders, people spending more time on their bike, good weather and a minority of motorists who were driving at higher-than-normal speeds due to quiet roads.