REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Thursday, November 25, 2004

THE pain was evident as Andrew ‘Blackie’ Blackmore spoke.

“I owe Robbie McEwen my life,” he whispered.

“I was dead and he brought me back to life. It doesn’t get much bigger than that, does it.”

Blackmore tried to laugh when told of his mate’s “kissing” quip, but with a broken shoulder, six

broken ribs and a punctured lung, laughter wasn’t necessarily the best medicine.

The 42-year-old window cleaner and passionate cyclist was released from the Gold Coast Hospital just over a week after he crashed from his bike and McEwen rose from sporting star to real-life hero.

The pair had been on a training ride through the Tweed region when Blackmore blacked out while cruising along Minjungbal Dve.

“I couldn’t believe it, he just smacked on to the ground,” said McEwen.

“We were slowing down after a sprint. I was at the back of the group and Blackie just collapsed.”

McEwen immediately went into emergency mode.

“Blackie’s eyes had rolled back and he was unconscious,” he said.

“We turned him on to his side ... and I couldn’t find a pulse.

“We rolled him on to his back and I started CPR, mouth-tomouth and heart massage.”