Just over eight months ago, Keagan Girdlestone was rushed to hospital in Italy and was fighting for his life. The 19-year-old South African, now living in New Zealand, had been involved in a horrific accident during the Coppa della Pace race in Rimini and had lost a significant amount of blood, having severed his carotid artery and jugular vein.
Girdlestone has since had to learn how to walk again and has only recently been able to drink water without the worry of choking. A testament to his determination, Girdlestone competed in his first race at the end of January, despite being under advice from the doctors not to push his heart rate above 145, to make sure his 'neck stays in one piece'.
The decision to race had been a last-minute one. He had previously intended to head to the national track championships at Invercargill as a spectator. When that fell through, he decided to go to the race, where his dad was already due to ride.
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"They asked me if I wanted to race and so I thought I may as well. It was very spur of the moment," Girdlestone told Cyclingnews from his home in New Zealand. "As I was riding, Dad was looking after me, and I felt like I was 10 again."
Following his accident, it would have been understandable if Girdlestone had been apprehensive about his return to pack riding, but it was like, well, riding a bike.
"It was pretty normal; I never really felt that it was very different to the last time. When I got into the bunch, I didn't really feel nervous at all," he explained. "Obviously, I didn't want to fall, so I was worried about that but while I was riding I never really thought about it, so it was ok.
Coming back from the brink
Dreaming big
— Keagan Girdlestone (@Keagan_vtc) February 1, 2017
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