Charity rider bounces back

Cambridge Middle School student Leo Piper is looking forward to replacing his mangled bike. Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins.

A year ago he cycled 142km for charity – now Leo Piper is on the receiving end of kindness after a crash that left him hospitalised with concussion, broken teeth and facial injuries.

The 11-year-old was knocked unconscious on July 10 after his bicycle collided with a car on the Hamilton Rd cycleway.

His mother, Jude Fitness, called his phone when he failed to arrive home on time and said her “heart nearly stopped” when a policeman answered.

She arrived at the scene on Hamilton Rd between Grey and Hall streets to find her son in the back of an ambulance being treated by paramedics.

“He was awake but he was really distressed, like agitated and throwing himself around,” she said.

“It was pretty horrific, pretty scary… you could tell his brain wasn’t with it. It wasn’t a choice thing, his brain was just reacting.”

Police are investigating the collision, which happened about 2.40pm.

Leo spent nine days in Waikato Hospital. He broke his two front teeth, bruised his face and body and needed surgery to repair his top lip. He has no recollection of his first four days in hospital and his memory is still glitching, but he is expected to make a full recovery.

“The first few days I was really nervous that it was going to be full on brain damage or something because he just wasn’t himself and he was so, so far gone,” Jude said. “It’s hard to believe, 10 days later, he was virtually back to normal. It was pretty scary.”

Had he not been wearing a helmet his injuries could have been far more serious, or even fatal, she said.

Jude is urging anyone using cycle paths to be vigilant.

Leo Piper in hospital after bike accident.jpg – Leo is assessed by a medical team at Waikato Hospital after his accident. Photo: supplied.

“You think you’re in a safe place but you can’t switch your brain off in those places, you’ve got to keep treating it like a road and being constantly aware of what’s going on around you,” she said.

“And I guess, for drivers, if you see a cyclist, stop and try and judge their speed before you decide it’s safe to go.”

Leo is now recovering at home and is making a gradual return to school.

Cambridge Middle School has raised more than $700 to help Leo buy a new bicycle.

“That was so cool,” Leo said. “When I heard about it, I was so happy.”

The Year 7 student recently represented Cambridge Middle School at the North Island schools’ road cycling championships and again at the national schools track cycling championships.

Last year, while a student at Leamington School, he rode his stationary bike for six hours straight to support the Cancer Society, covering 142km and raising more than $3000.

Now, Leo and his mum are grateful to the wider community for the support they’ve received.

Leo said he was feeling “a bit anxious and nervous” about returning to cycling but was looking forward to getting a new bike so he could go riding with his mates again.

“I’d say to kids, wear a helmet and clip it on so it can’t come off and damage your brain,” he said.

“Even on a footpath, just take care and wear a helmet.”

Read: Leo’s big target

Read: What a ride by Leo

Leo’s bloodied face in hospital. Photo: Supplied

Looking back