AN elderly cyclist had a miraculous escape after being hit by a car on the A31 between Farnham and Alton on Saturday, December 12.

Mark Heal, 67, was cycling from his home in East Street, Farnham, to meet friends at the Alton Cyclists Touring Club as he does every Saturday, when at around midday he was hit from behind by a silver VW Polo near Bentley.

The cyclist was knocked “15ft into the air” according to eye witnesses on the opposite carriageway and passed out on hitting the ground - suffering a serious head injury, severe cuts and bruising.

His memory of the incident is very patchy, but Mr Heal recalls two people called Mark and Alex coming to his aid before the emergency services arrived. The female driver of the VW Polo also stopped and was later quizzed by police.

Mr Heal was rushed to Frimley Park Hospital by ambulance, and upon the discovery of bleeding on his brain he was again taken by ambulance to the major trauma unit at St George’s Hospital, Tooting.

However, by Sunday doctors were satisfied his injuries would heal on their own and he was discharged. He is now recovering at home.

Mr Heal told The Herald: “I’m a very experienced cyclist and have been cycling this route regularly for many years without any problems.

“On Saturday I was wearing a high-visibility jacket, rear flashing lights and a helmet with a rear-view mirror attached— I couldn’t have been more obvious, but people just don’t plan their overtaking and it seems many haven’t heard of brakes. If you see somebody cycling in the road, slow down. It’s simple.

“I’ve got a very mashed up face and severe cuts on my legs and back, and it’s still very painful. But I didn’t break any bones and I’m very lucky not to have been killed.”

The crash comes just months after another cyclist - father-of-two Lee Martin, 48 - was killed on the same stretch of the A31 near Bentley heading eastbound.

The driver of a white Ford Transit van was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving in relation to the death or Mr Martin in August and was due back on bail last Friday , pending further enquiries.

Mr Heal continued: “It’s a very open bit of dual carriageway and there isn’t a lot of traffic on Saturdays. As far as I’m concerned, this is a road traffic crime not an accident, as someone has chosen to run me down rather than put their brakes on.

“As I was receiving treatment, I overheard the driver of the Polo telling police she tried to get around me but there wasn’t enough space in the outside lane - my answer to that would be ‘put your brakes on then’.

“I don’t know what’s happened to her since and she hasn’t even contacted me to see if I’m alright.

“It’s really basic highway code stuff. However young or old you are, all it takes is a bit of courtesy towards other road users. Would you drive into a horse or tractor? No, of course not, so why are cyclists any different?”

Hampshire Police confirmed it was called to a crash involving a cyclist and a VW Polo on the A31 westbound near Bentley at 12.11pm on December 12.

A spokesman for the force added the cyclist was treated for cuts and bruises at the scene, and no one was arrested.