Bicycle Network Victoria: Ride On magazine
Back from the brink
Member Robert Carroll had a heart attack while riding home from work. Luckily for him, he got medical help in time.
On the 18th Feb 2009 whilst riding home from work on Johnston Street Fitzroy I suffered a sudden heart attack and took a nose dive over my handle bars. Although my helmet took the brunt of the fall my cheek still hit the road and fractured in three places. Although I have no memory of the event I was lucky enough to have three medical professionals there to render assistance and save my life. The staff at the Royal Melbourne Hospital repaired me by unblocking an artery and enhanced me by implanting a defibrillator.
The upside is I am now back on my bike riding, although it will be a little while before I start riding to work again and the ride around the bay is out for this year.
The downside is that they cut my beloved 2006 Round the Bay Legends jersey off me and I can't wear it again without a substantial amount of gaffa tape.
The bicycle only received minor damage due to it landing on something soft, me!
So for all those people in Johnston street that night who saw those legends furiously working on me don't stress I am doing great. For all those people that saved my life and helped get me back on my feet (and bicycle) a big thank you from my family and I.