Morriston Hospital
Cyclist left 'looking like a horror show' after smashing face-first into a pick-up truck
Rosemary Collins said her glasses 'mashed' into her face during the collision
Mark SmithHealth Correspondent
Cyclist Rosemary Collins suffered serious injuries after smashing head-first into a pick-up truck (Image: Rosemary Collins)
Sign up to FREE daily email alerts from Wales Online - Swansea
A cyclist has relived the moment she smashed head-first into a pick-up truck and suffered horrendous facial injuries.
Rosemary Collins was cycling to Aberystwyth University , where she works as a researcher in plant breeding, when her front tyre blew out.
The 58-year-old was unable to stop her bike and ended up slamming into the truck at high speed.
She said her sunglasses "mashed" into her face during the collision, leaving her looking "like a horror show".
"I went around the corner and there was a line of stationary traffic. I just wasn't able to stop and I slammed into the back of a pick-up truck," she recalled.
"I tried to swerve, but I couldn't control the bike and I glanced off the truck and got catapulted onto the other side of the road on my head."
As well as the injury caused by the sunglasses, Rosemary, who lives just outside Aberystwyth , also broke a tooth which perforated her upper lip, leaving her with two facial traumas.
This is what cyclists can do on the roads:
Bleeding badly and suffering from concussion, she was rushed to Bronglais Hospital by ambulance. However she was yet to see the extent of her injuries.
When she did she said: "I just thought 'Oh, what a horror show'." She feared she would never look the same again.
The areas of Wales where ambulances take the longest to reach seriously-ill patients
A CT scan at Bronglais revealed none of her facial bones were broken, but she was referred to the Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston Hospital in Swansea which provides a regional service.
On arrival, they carried out another CT scan on Rosemary which revealed she had also broken a bone in her neck.
"It wasn't in a bad place thankfully. It could have been a whole lot worse," said Rosemary.
"They operated on my face the next day. I don't know how many stitches were put in. I also had lacerations all over my legs and shoulders and they cleaned it up and put my face back together."
The Welsh Centre for Burns and Plastic Surgery at Morriston Hospital in Swansea
Rosemary added: " The surgeon explained that around your temple there's so many blood vessels and nerves that control your face, so they have to be careful.
"You can barely see any scarring. There's a very faint line where the two big injuries were, but other than that it's barely visible. It way exceeded my expectations.
"I would say my face is 99% the same as it was before, which is just amazing. I think it's incredible. I'm in awe of their skill."
Rosemary and her wife Sara McAleese were so grateful, they posted before and after pictures on social media along with a message thanking the hospital team.
"I hoped somebody would be able to stitch it up and do a reasonable job, but they did a way more than reasonable job. They are so skilful."
Professor Iain Whitaker, honorary consultant plastic surgeon, was the consultant in charge on the day Rosemary was admitted.
Chemotherapy backpack allows cancer patients to have treatment outside hospital
He said: "I am delighted with the results of Rosemary's surgery, and even more pleased that she is so happy with the care she received from the team.
"It's a credit to the whole team providing her care, from the surgeon, to the nurses and the administrative support staff. We always strive for a culture of excellence in plastic surgery at Morriston Hospital.
"We are doing a lot of research currently on the impacts on patients with facial scars in Wales and trying to improve how we deal with these injuries."
Royal FamilyThe members of the Royal Family who can and can't be arrestedThere are some very strict rules surrounding the Queen and her family