TV chef Gordon Ramsay has mentioned he’s fortunate to be alive after crashing his bicycle, and has urged cyclists to put on a helmet.
The 57-year-old, who has competed in triathlons and Ironman occasions, revealed the main points of a “actually dangerous accident” he had just lately whereas using his bike. He shared a video on X on Saturday afternoon, writing that he was “grateful for my helmet that saved my life”.
“I might prefer to share an important message with you all,” Ramsay mentioned. “You understand how a lot I like biking and triathlons and Ironmans and so on. This week, sadly, I had a extremely dangerous accident and it actually shook me. Truthfully, I am fortunate to be right here.
“These unbelievable trauma surgeons, docs, nurses within the hospital that sorted me this week, they had been superb, however actually, you have to put on a helmet,” he continued. “I do not care how brief the journey is. I do not care [about] the truth that these helmets price cash, they’re essential. Even with the youngsters, [on] a brief journey, they have to put on a helmet.”
Throughout the video, Ramsay lifted his chef’s jacket to disclose a big purple bruise masking the left aspect of his stomach.
“I am fortunate to be standing right here,” he mentioned. “I am in ache. It has been a brutal week, and I am type of getting by means of it. However, I can not let you know the significance of sporting a helmet.
“This weekend is very large, it is Father’s Day, for brand new fathers, outdated fathers, middle-aged fathers. I wish to want you all a really pleased Father’s Day, however please, please, please, please put on a helmet. As a result of if I did not, actually, I would not be right here now.”
Sporting a helmet isn’t at the moment a authorized requirement within the UK, though the Freeway Code suggests it for cyclists.
“You need to put on a cycle helmet that conforms to present rules, is the right dimension and securely fixed,” the Freeway Code says. “Proof suggests {that a} appropriately fitted helmet will cut back your danger of sustaining a head harm in sure circumstances.”
Main charity Biking UK is against the concept of obligatory helmet sporting, citing considerations that it’d put individuals off biking.
“Helmets are, and might solely be, designed to resist minor knocks and falls, not severe site visitors collisions,” Biking UK writes on its web site.
The charity provides that sporting a helmet “may even be counter-productive, by encouraging drivers or cyclists to behave much less cautiously, and/or by rising the dangers of neck and different accidents.”