Cyclist rides off after knocking down pensioner

Woman left in a pool of blood on pavement

A shopper had to have a brain scan after she was knocked down by a cyclist in the city centre and left lying in a pool of blood.

Kathy Wood, 64, was struck by the reckless rider as she walked through the pedestrian precinct in Rose Lane.

Despite coming off his bike, the cyclist simply re-mounted and sped off down the busy street, leaving other shoppers to come to her aid.

She said: “The rider seemed to come towards me at speed from nowhere and I couldn’t get out of his way in time.

“I went down with a hell of a bang and the back of my head hit the pavement with a crack.

“I just remember seeing him get straight back on his bike and shoot off, winging someone else as he went. He must have known I was hurt.

“I could see a lot of blood around me and people rushed up to help covering me with a coat and calling an ambulance.

“One gentleman even dashed to a nearby building society, where my husband had gone just before the collision, to let him know what had happened.

“Everyone was very kind and concerned and the ambulance and hospital staff were superb.”

Mrs Woods, who had been shopping with her husband Michael, suffered cuts to the back of her head and severe bruising to her back.

She was taken to hospital and underwent an X-ray and CT scan, which fortunately revealed no fractures.

The former postwoman and hotel receptionist said: “I spent seven hours in A&E but thank- Kathy Wood suffered a head injury after being hit by a speeding cyclist. Inset, Mrs Wood

fully the test showed there was no serious damage, although I was feeling pretty rough and shaken up.”

Police are still trying to trace the rogue cyclist and appealing for information.

Mrs Wood, from Southwall Road, Deal, said: “It seems the only CCTV of the incident shows just the back of the cyclist, but I remember he was wearing a blue jacket with a large pale yellow square motif on the front.

“He has got off scot-free after leaving me in a big pool of blood.”

David Currie, head of the Kent Police Central Process Unit, says unlike motorists, cyclists are not obliged by law to stop and exchange details following a collision.

However, he added it is an offence to ride recklessly on a road or in a “dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner”.

The cyclist is described as aged about 55, white and of a medium build with dark hair. He was riding a blue bicycle.

Anyone with information should call police on 01843 222289.