One from the Vaults: Nose job

Posted on 21/05/2021 by

45 Comments

Today I’m heading back to May 2013 when my beloved had a cycling accident. His first requiring hospital treatment, but probably not his last.

Nose job?
Nose job?

Yesterday my husband was desperate to enjoy what little good weather was forecast. Unwilling to wait while I finished a small task, he left the flat about an hour ahead of me for a ride. I was about to leave the Domaine on my bike, when my mobile rang. By the time I’d fished it out of my back pocket, I’d missed the call. I didn’t recognise the number so waited to see if the caller left a message. He did.

It’s the type of call you dread receiving. It started with the words that my husband had been involved in an accident then calmed my fears by advising he wasn’t badly hurt. I raced home and rang the caller who told me that he’d been taken to a local hospital (Antibes) and a friend was coming to collect his bike. In France, the firemen are also the paramedics but, not unnaturally, they cart you off to hospital and leave others to worry about collateral issues such as your bike.

I changed, grabbed the necessary paperwork and legged it over to the hospital where a long queue of domestic accidents awaited. I was assured that my husband was being dealt with and I could see him soon. Soon turned out to be a relative term. It was two hours before he rang me to give me chapter and verse of what he could remember.

He was riding through Juan-les-Pins when the car in front, without indicating, stopped abruptly. Richard braked, flew over the handle bars and hit the boot with his nose, which it has to be said is fairly sizeable. He was dazed, cut his chin, his lip and split open his nose up to his forehead. Copious amounts of blood issued forth. Luckily a couple of team mates were riding in the opposite direction who took care of his bike. First on the scene was a lady from another club who’s a nurse. She kindly organised everything and took care of Richard – far better than I could have done. With that much blood, I’d have likely fainted!

Despite it being a Sunday my beloved was impressed with the level of care and professionalism of the hospital and staff and was released into my tender car with plenty of pain killers. He pretty much ached all over from the impact and while his first appointment tomorrow – today’s a bank holiday – is with an ENT specialist, he’ll probably have to go and see his physio too.

My beloved was extremely fortunate that he wasn’t cycling faster, as the injuries would have been worse. Also the proper authorities were quickly alerted and he was tended to by a nurse at the scene. I’m trying to track down the lady in question via the cycling club network so that I can thank her. He now looks like an extra in a Hammer House of Horror movie and his chances of ever finding work as a model have flown out the window.  He’s also grounded for the next week or so. Spare a thought for me in all of this. I was looking forward to a quiet week watching the Giro and tackling my “to do” list, now I’ll be resuming my  ill-suited role as Florence Nightingale!

Monday postscript: Amazingly, I have managed to get all of the blood out of his shirt!

Tuesday postscript: The ENT specialist was pleased with how quickly my beloved’s injuries are healing. The nose is broken, but not displaced, and the stitches come out on Friday.

injuries3

Category: CyclingTags:

45 Comments on “One from the Vaults: Nose job”

  4. Scars that will have him great talking points when you are able to have parties again. I have been watching snatches of the Giro. 🙂 🙂

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  11. 💜 At least he could still walk, a fat prop in Dieppe landed awkwardly on my leg causing the knee to swell and a massive bruise in my hamstring and was kind to Me as were his French TeamMates; as a rugby player my TeamMates were kind enough to slow down to My Hobbling Pace for Our Post Match Shenanigans

    …💛💚💙…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Ooof. Darn cars!
    That sounds like a terrible ordeal. So glad he’s okay and on the mend. Thank goodness for First Responders! They are true heroes! Good luck with the Florence Nightingale job duties!

    Liked by 1 person

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