Singapore's top female cyclist Dinah Chan was involved in a collision with a car yesterday while training for the upcoming SEA Games.
The 27-year-old was cycling alone along East Coast Park Service Road at around 11am when she collided with a right-turning Mazda 3.
The collision flung her about 3m away, but she landed on a grass patch which cushioned her fall and so did not suffer any broken bones. Her helmet - cracked from the impact - also protected her from serious head injuries.
Nevertheless, she suffered abrasions, a swollen neck and lips, and damaged teeth, and drifted in and out of consciousness. She was put under 24-hour observation at Changi General Hospital.
She said: "Thank God I landed on the grass and nothing was broken... Hopefully, the wounds will heal quickly. It could have been a lot worse. I hope this accident can remind everyone to be vigilant and stay alert on the road."
Driver Mona Yong, 38, a sales executive, said: "Everything happened so quickly. I saw the cyclist swerving in front of my car and the next thing I know, we collided... I got out and saw her sitting on the grass patch. I immediately called for an ambulance and tried to dry her blood with tissue paper."
Ms Chan admits the accident is a blow to her preparations for the Dec11-22 SEA Games in Myanmar, but hopes to get back on her bike in a week's time.
Official figures show 179 cyclists were injured in the first six months of this year. The deaths of three cyclists in May highlighted the need for awareness of cyclist safety on the roads.
