Kentish Express Ashford & District
Probe launched after athlete injured by hit-and-run cyclist
A talented athlete suffered fractures across her entire face and arms after she was hit by a man cycling on the pavement.
Lesley Hall was walking towards the town centre along Canterbury Road in Kennington when she was struck by the man, who fled the scene and is now being hunted by police.
Despite wearing a flashing armband and hi-vis jacket, the 63-year-old was knocked into the path of oncoming traffic, where a passing man knelt beside her and called an ambulance.
The racewalker said: “A cyclist was on the path and came straight towards me - that’s the last thing I remember until I woke up on the road.
“He obviously must have given me a real clout as I think I was spun around and facing the opposite direction to the one I was walking.
“The comment I heard from him was ‘you’re alright, get up’.
“I didn’t attempt to because I knew I wasn’t alright.”
After Miss Hall was knocked to the floor during the incident, on Tuesday, February 18, a passing van stopped near her and a woman - who later transpired to be a nurse - rushed to her aid.
“She looked at my face and shined a torch at it,” Miss Hall said.
“She then took the man’s phone and said ‘I’m a nurse, my dad’s here and we’re taking her in the van to the hospital’.
“They put me in the van and they took me all the way to A&E.
“If I knew who they were, I’d like to say thank you to them as they were absolutely brilliant.”
When the self-employed sports masseuse arrived at the William Harvey Hospital, she was to learn her troubles were only just beginning.
The Willesborough homeowner said: “My left wrist was broken and dislocated - at the time they put it back in place and set it in plaster but the next morning they phoned to say the wrist’s not stable.
“So they operated on it on Thursday [February 20], during which they pinned and plated it before putting it in plaster.
“My right arm between my elbow and wrist, that was slit open and they physically had to stitch it together.
“My eye socket, cheek bone and jaw have multiple fractures and breaks.
“My bruising’s still there but at least the swelling is going down so I can actually open my eye.
“I’m only on liquid and soft food as I can’t put any pressure on my teeth or jaw.”
It’s not known how long the recovery period will be, and Miss Hall notes “they are looking at facial reconstruction some breaks they think might heal by themselves but some are so severe and they are out of place”.
The injuries have forced the former teacher of 25 years to completely change her lifestyle.
An avid racewalker, she’s represented England and Great Britain in the sport and works in sports massage and therapy.
Last year, the former Towers School PE teacher speedwalked 5,000 metres in just over 33 minutes at the British Masters Championship, winning gold in the veteran-60 women’s category.
She said: “I can’t work at the moment because I’ve got one arm in plaster and the other in a bandage, but I’ll get back to working as soon as possible.
“I’m also an athlete so it’s affecting my training and I won’t be competing for a while.
“The doctor said ‘don’t run because it’ll make your jaw unstable’ - the thought had never even crossed my mind that could happen.
“My lifestyle’s been completely messed up, I usually train twice a day.
“But I can’t get the plaster wet and I absolutely can’t risk the several cuts in my arm getting infected.”
The culprit has still not been identified, but a police investigation has been launched.
■ Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 01843 222289, quoting 19-0440.