A cyclist who was trapped under a car has revealed that a helmet she bought on a whim saved her life.
Claire Pepper, 27, was cycling home to South London last night when she was involved in a collision with a car in Commercial Street at the junction with Hanbury Street in Spitalfields.
It left her trapped under the car which was lifted by a group of 10 bystanders who helped free Claire.
Speaking from The Royal London Hospital, where she was taken, Claire said: “I’m in a bit of pain as the pain killers have worn off. I have a broken collarbone and some bruises but I feel pretty lucky.
“I don’t have any recollection of the accident at all.”
Claire, a fashion photographer, said she owes her life to the new helmet she bought recently on a whim. She said: “Its the first time I have worn it. I just bought it on a whim and I was thinking I should have asked for it for Christmas but I’m glad I did buy it.”
Claire said she was “super grateful” to the people who lifted the car off her.
Her boyfriend Jonathan Gales, 27, who was at her bedside, urged other cyclists to wear their helmets. He said: “It definitely saved her life. It was a brand new helmet and it was absolutely smashed, her head was stuck under the car.”
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