AN uMhlanga resident says she will be billing the City the cost of her medical expenses and damages to her bicycle in excess of R20 000 after hitting a massive pothole on Armstrong Avenue. The 27-year-old, who is a top competitive cyclist in the province, did not want to be named and said the accident occurred on Tuesday morning just after 5am. She suffered cuts and bruising to her fingers, back and buttocks. Her helmet cracked on impact and the local resident said it was a ‘miracle’ that she was alive.

“I normally cycle on Armstrong Avenue, going uphill. This particular morning, I was riding downhill to join a morning ride starting at the mall, I had my lights on. There was a little pothole just before this one which I managed to avoid. Unfortunately with the area being poorly lit and the pothole casting it’s own shadow, I ended up hitting the lip of the hole at about 45 km/h.

“I don’t remember what happened after the impact, I just landed on my back. I just yelled in pain because I couldn’t feel my right leg. Three ladies running nearby said they saw me somersault three times in the air and land heavily on my back. My phone and Garmin cracked, my bike was damaged as were my shoes and my helmet cracked. I was eventually taken to hospital where X-rays confirmed I was fine. I had cuts between my fingers, roasties on my shoulders, knees and lower back and butt,” she said.

The local resident was taken through to Umhlanga Hospital and was released after a few hours.

“I just want to warn other cyclists who use Armstrong Avenue, especially as it is such a busy road. This could’ve ended much worse off than it did. I’m grateful that I wasn’t seriously injured. I just want other cyclists to be careful and to always wear a helmet because not everyone may be as lucky as I was,” she said.