Pigeon crash biker on road to recovery

Matthew Brealy, 38, of Whittington Moor, Chesterfield, told how he was struck in the face at 50mph and knocked unconscious as his out-of-control Suzuki GSXR 1,000cc motorcycle sped up to 140mph.

The bike careered into a bush and a tree and threw Matthew - who was covered in pigeon blood and feathers - 200 yards down the main road between Caenby Corner and Retford.

He said: “A friend and I were out one morning on our motorcycles when I was struck full in the face by a low-flying pigeon which smashed through my helmet visor and the lens of my glasses.”

“I was knocked unconscious at 50mph and collapsed on to the front of my bike and hit the throttle so that I accelerated out of control.”

“Police later estimated that the bike had gone from just 50mph to up to 140mph and thankfully it happened on a straight country road.”

“The bike hit an oak tree with a glancing blow and smashed into thousands of pieces.” A farmer blocked the road with his combine harvester and the emergency services gave Matthew treatment for about an hour before he was taken to hospital by air ambulance in an induced coma.

Matthew suffered two skull fractures with bleeding to his brain, a broken leg, cracked ribs and a fractured hand and spent about ten weeks in Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital and his hand was re-wired and a titanium rod was placed in his leg.

Following the accident in April, last year, he underwent months of recuperation and the Bolsover Council funded Work for Yourself Programme, with support from Disability Dynamics, has helped Matthew launch a new business called MB Electrical Ltd.

He added: “Police confirmed a pigeon had caused the accident and my visor was left with a hole in it and I was covered with pigeon blood and feathers.”

“It was a bizarre, freak accident that nearly killed me but police say it’s more common than people realise for motorcyclists to be hit by birds.”

“I’m 99per cent back to normal. I had to learn to walk again but with the support of my wife Emma and family plus specialist brain injury support I was determined to get on my feet and back to work.”

With a new lease of life, the couple are expecting a baby in ten weeks and Matthew wants to expand his business which provides light industrial, commercial and electrical services and is considering taking on an apprentice.