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Crash cyclist can't remember his family
A cyclist was left with no memory of his family after suffering horrific head injuries in a road accident.
Tony Forrest was almost killed when he was involved in a collision with a Toyota Corolla while riding his bike near Sunderland's Queen Alexandra Bridge.
The 44-year-old, from Fulwell, was on his was way to work at a cleaning company in South Hylton when he was knocked down in Queen's Road, Southwick.
He underwent emergency surgery at Sun derland Royal Hospital and was put on the critical list.
Left in an medically-induced coma for five days, his family kept a bedside vigil as Tony fought for life.
But after regaining consciousness, it was discovered he had post-traumatic amnesia.
His sister Ann Eden, 41, said: "We all just couldn't believe it when we heard the news. It was absolutely devastating.
"It really affected my mum. It was almost a year to the day that we buried my dad after he died of cancer and then she had this to cope with.
"Tony came off the critical list on Christmas Eve and was in a high dependency ward for a week. We were all so relieved when he regained consciousness, but then the doctors told us about the memory loss.
"It was heartbreaking when we walked into his room and he didn't know who we were. He just didn't recognise us at all."
It is only now, more than a month after the crash, that Tony is regaining his memory, although he has no recollection of the rush-hour accident.
Tony, who is single, is undergoing rehabilitation at Newcastle's Walkergate Hospital and still has short-term memory loss.
"He can't remember what he had for tea or where his hospital room is, but he can remember people from his childhood and experiences from years ago," said mum-of-two Ann.
"It's only in the past few days that he has started to recognise me and his mum, but he can easily get confused. It's just a waiting game now to see how he responds to treatment."
Mystery still surrounds the accident and Tony's family are appealing for anyone who saw the crash to contact police.
Ann, of Red House, said: "Tony has no recollection of the incident at all. He wasn't wearing a helmet at the time, but he is a very experienced cyclist and was wearing a luminous top.
"We are looking at making an insurance claim because Tony is going to need a lot of help and support when he leaves hospital.
"The doctors don't know if he'll ever be able to return to work and he'll need further operations for his facial injuries.
"Somebody, somewhere must have seen something."
A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said officers were not treating the incident as a criminal matter. However, anyone with information about the accident, which happened shortly before 8.30am on December 21, can contact the Sunderland motor patrol on 08456 043 043 ext. 6633.
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Weather for Sunderland
Thursday 09 February 2012
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