THE wife of a cyclist who suffered serious head injuries when he was in collision with a car on Friday morning has spoken about her husband s ordeal and how his crash helmet saved his life. David Smith, 41, of Oak Field Avenue, Knebworth, was airlifted to

THE wife of a cyclist who suffered serious head injuries when he was in collision with a car on Friday morning has spoken about her husband's ordeal and how his crash helmet saved his life.

David Smith, 41, of Oak Field Avenue, Knebworth, was airlifted to Queens Hospital, Romford, by the Herts Air Ambulance after the incident outside the B&Q DIY store in London Road, Stevenage.

Mr Smith was on his way to work at Global Invacom in Caxton Place, Stevenage, where he is a satellite engineer.

"If he hadn't been wearing his crash helmet he wouldn't be alive now," said Mr Smith's wife Geraldine, 38.

"He has the helmet with him in hospital and I was shocked when I saw it. It is completely smashed and it saved his life.

"This is a lesson I hope all cyclists will heed. Wearing a helmet is essential because you never known when you are going to have an accident while out riding a bicycle.

"I saw people riding through the centre of Knebworth on Saturday without a helmet and it made me shudder to think their lives could be in danger."

Mr Smith, who has a son Joshua aged four, had only recently taken up riding to work again on his bike to get fit.

But he remains in Queens Hospital and is making a slow recovery from his horrific ordeal.

"He has double vision and is conscious. But he is doing well," added Mrs Smith.

"He will be seeing a number of specialists this week to determine the next stage of his treatment. He has a nasty head injury and his back is badly bruised.

"Hopefully he will make a full recovery. But it was his helmet that saved him.