Partner Jenny Kennedy is acting for Andrew Neill who was involved in a devastating cycling accident in 2010. To help him in his recovery he decided to write a diary. Here is just an extract from it:

Diary of an Injured Cyclist
by Andrew Neill

Prologue
I am a 36 year old man who on March 28th 2010 was out training for a triathlon when I was involved in a serious road traffic accident. A 21 year old female driver hit my bicycle from behind whilst she was travelling at somewhere between 40-50mph.

I decided to write this diary as it would help with my physical and mental recovery, but also to hopefully enlighten and encourage people to wear cycling helmets. I was wearing one on the day of my accident (courtesy of pressure from my wife who is Australian (it is the law over there that cyclists must wear helmets)). If I had not been wearing the helmet on the day, I dread to think what may have become of me.

The diary you are about to read contains the story of my accident and the subsequent 13 days I spent in hospital.

Extract
March 29th
... A nurse tells me that I have a self-regulating morphine drip, which if I need I can press and this should reduce the pain. I press it immediately! Goodness knows what medication I am on, but I have to take about a dozen tablets at mealtimes.

My wife and son visit in the morning. He looks terrified when he sees daddy. I see his bottom lip quiver slightly and he looks tearful. I feel guilty in some way for putting him through something like this.

Two physiotherapists come into see me. Helen and Katie. They are both really nice and tell me they are going to move me into a chair that is beside my bed. I tell them they have more hope of winning the lottery, but we give it a go. After a lot of effort, I make it into the chair, and after the initial pain of moving, I manage to sit in the chair for about 20 minutes.

They also bring with them a Zimmer frame. Surely I am 40 years too young for this! ...

I am wheeled down for an x-ray in the afternoon on my thumb. I presume this is to confirm that the doctor managed to put my thumb back into place correctly. When back in the ward, I feel like I am going to be sick. I reach for a bowl and vomit. Hospital staff bring around dinner. I had no appetite before dinner and after seeing what it was, I still don't have an appetite.

Someone comes around and takes measurements of my torso. This is for the spinal brace that will be fitted as soon as they know my size...

You can purchase the full version of Andrew Neill's diary from The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust. Visit www.bhit.org
50% of all profits from the sale of the diary will go to the BHIT who are committed to saving young people’s lives by promoting safe cycling and, in particular, the use of cycle helmets.