Centurion cyclist recovers after crash in Italy
“I was told he was unconscious for close to 30 minutes.”
A Centurion teenager is recovering after he crashed into the back of a vehicle during a cycling race in Italy.
Barbara Girdlestone said her grandson, Keagan, was almost killed while cycling in the Italian Coppa della Pace race in Italy on 5 June.
“I was told he was unconscious for close to 30 minutes,” she said.
“Keagan was on an uphill climb with the team vehicle in front of him. There must have been an obstacle that caused the vehicle in front of him to swerve and that is when Keagan went straight into the back window of the vehicle at around 40km/h.”
Barbara said Keagan needed about 9 pints of blood while he was in hospital.
She said made a miraculous recovery and was recuperating in hospital, with his parents, Wayne and Desere Girdlestone.
“I am just happy he is well on his way to recovery after the horrific accident.”
Barbara said Keagan was undergoing physiotherapy and had regained the use of his arm and several other parts of his body.
“He is speaking, but we all know he still has a long way to go.”
Initial reports on social media claimed Keagan had died, but it was later confirmed he was in a serious condition.
The race was immediately cancelled in light of the severity of the accident.
According to reports, the Coppa della Pace race organisers issued a statement shortly after saying an investigation into the crash had been opened.
Race director Raffaele Babini said: “The accident occurred when there were four laps to go … The boy had fallen into a downhill section and was at a strong recovery position to return to the group.”
“[While Keagan was] cycling up a hill near a decent, a team car slowed sharply and the guy [Keagan], who was at full speed, crashed violently against the car, breaking through the rear window of the car, getting serious facial injuries. I cannot say more because they are still under investigation by the security forces.”
Girdlestone joined the newly formed Dimension Data continental team for the cycling season.
The team was set up over the winter by the WorldTour squad of the same name to give African riders an opportunity to race in Europe.
The Coppa della Pace was Girdlestone’s second race in Europe after competing at the Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali last year.
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