Aspiring cycling star James Hand lucky to be alive after a horror crash in Adelaide Hills

An aspiring cycling star is lucky to be alive after a horror crash left him with four broken limbs and requiring over 20 hours of surgery.

An aspiring cycling star is lucky to be alive after a horror crash left him with four broken limbs and requiring more than 20 hours of surgery.

James Hand, 19, was riding in the Adelaide Hills on July 27 as part of his intense routine as the budding star was training for upcoming national events.

Suddenly, he was unable to control his bike and was sent into oncoming traffic, smashing head-on into a HiLux ute.

The teenager from Tailem Bend broke all four limbs with a nasty femur break and smashing his elbow in multiple places, losing “litres” of blood.

The accident happened just days before a cyclist was killed in the Adelaide Hills, only kilometres away.

Mr Hand said he could only recall snippets of the horror as it unfolded, almost as if it was a flashback montage in a movie.

Aspiring cycling star, James Hand speaks of a horrific road accident which left him with four broken limbs and requiring over 20 hours of surgery.

The teen had just been selected to race in the SuperSeries as part of the Van D’am Racing team and was training for the Road Nationals in Perth in January. Picture: Supplied

“I remember the car being a foot away from me and my rear wheel being in the air from breaking hard … I remember waking up down the side of a hill, then I remember being in the ambulance briefly, and then being put under in the ICU.”

He said later learned he hit the car head-on travelling at anything from 50 to 70km/h, smashing the window before launching over the guard rail and flying down a hill.

By chance, the next car travelling on the road was a trauma nurse.

“I woke up and as I believe an ICU nurse was there, it was very lucky, I was in good care and in hospital quickly.”

Mr Hand said the morning started as a normal training day; he raced at Victoria Park as part of the Norwood Cycling Club and had ventured into the Hills for extra kilometres to build up endurance before riding back to the city.

“I was going down James Rd in Belair, there was a left hand bend and my rear tyre just blew … I look up and there is a 4WD about to clean me up,” he said.

James Hand, of Tailem Bend, visited in hospital by Charlie Able. Picture: Supplied

James Hand in action on the bike. Picture: Supplied

“When your tyre goes on your bike, you can’t really turn and it was a left hand bend where it went so I got sent into oncoming traffic.”

He said despite the serious injuries, he managed to avoid a spinal or head injury and – while he lost consciousness due to blood loss, avoided a concussion.

Mr Hand said he was “extremely lucky to be alive” and while he was in instore for a lengthy recovery, he was determined to get back on the bike.

The teen had just been selected to race in the SuperSeries as part of the Van D’am Racing team and was training for the Road Nationals in Perth in January and then Oceanias in Brisbane in April.

He said while getting back on the road would be a mental hurdle, he was determined to get back to his best.

“I think it will take me some time, it will always be in the back of my head, going down hill … but it was a freak accident.”

While his legs are expected to heal, Mr Hand said one of his arms could permanently lose mobility, sending his focus to para-cycling.

But for now, all his energy is on small rehab goals as he tries to regain some independence.

He has just returned home after three weeks in hospital and thanked his parents, his girlfriend Grace and friends for their care.

Mr Hand said he had been in touch with the driver of the HiLux and was endeavouring to get in touch with the nurse who provided care at the scene.

Originally published as Aspiring cycling star James Hand lucky to be alive after a horror crash in Adelaide Hills