A Aberdeenshire man has posted a plea online for people to invest in helmets when cycling after an accident left his wife with a brain bleed.
David Smith’s wife Carrie was thrown over her handlebars while cycling on Mormond Hill, near Fraserburgh, and knocked unconscious.
An ambulance took her to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where scans revealed that she had a brain bleed.
Speaking at a time when more and more people are taking to cycling, Mr Smith said he believes the helmet she was wearing saved her life.
In the post he said: “Carrie’s helmet was dented at the side and cracked at the front corner but I do believe it saved her life.
“She is still in hospital and on the mend but I think it will take a while for her to fully recover.
“I see so many people young and old cycling with no helmets on, today I must have seen 10 or 15 children cycling to my children’s school and not one had a helmet on.
“Please, if you know anyone who does this, encourage them to spend the £30 or £40 on a decent helmet.
“They may think they will look daft, but dead is a worse look.”
New figures have shown that an increase in cycling in Scotland has continued after phase three of lockdown.
In July there was a 44% increase in cycling compared to the same month last year, following a rise of 68% in April, 77% in May and 63% in June compared to the same months last year.