Bike-crash man praises 'life saver' after close call

"I thought he was a goner."

That was local hairdresser Cliff Harris' first impression when he saw blood "fountaining" from Avenues cyclist Richard Schrama's face after he slammed into a car door.

Mr Schrama was biking to work last Wednesday on the Cameron Rd cycle lane near the 9th Ave roundabout when a woman parked on the side of the road opened her driver's door and Mr Schrama smashed into it, injuring his face.

The door severed an artery near Mr Schrama's jawline, piercing his left cheek and causing blood to spurt rapidly from the wound. Mr Harris helped stem the blood flow and looked after Mr Schrama until an ambulance arrived.

The area where Richard Schrama was knocked off his bike.

Mr Schrama contacted the Bay of Plenty Times because he wanted to see Mr Harris recognised for his efforts.

"People like him need more recognition. It encourages people to get involved in voluntary work and life skills that can potentially save people's lives.

"I take my hat off to him for having the skills to take care of the situation."

At the time of the accident, Mr Schrama said he saw the door open but only had a "split second" to react and was unable to avoid the collision.

Richard Schrama (right) is lucky to be alive thanks to help from Cliff Harris. Photo / John Borren

"I ended up collecting the corner of the door on my face. There were quite a few people around and Cliff pretty much took control of the situation. He dragged me off the curb so I was lying on the side in the recovery position. There was lots of blood everywhere."

Mr Harris was driving past and saw the accident unfold. He had his son in the car, so parked down the road "so he didn't have to see all the blood and gore", then put his skills learned in search and rescue to use.

Mr Harris said the driver was extremely upset at the scene.

Mr Harris put pressure on the wound to stop the "fountaining" flow of blood, but it began bleeding from the inside of Mr Schrama's mouth. "I didn't know whether or not to put my hand in his mouth."

He tried to keep Mr Schrama calm to get his heart rate down by not letting on how bad the wound was and telling funny stories.

"I thought he was a goner."

An ambulance arrived and took Mr Schrama to Tauranga Hospital Accident and Emergency. "There were a couple of doctors initially, then they realised the severity of it and said this is a life threatening situation, we've got to get you into theatre," Mr Schrama said.

"It hadn't crossed my mind that it was life-threatening. They don't say that lightly in hospitals."

He said he lost litres of blood and needed a transfusion.

Mr Schrama's wife Donna met him at the hospital, but when she saw "blood squirting across the room" decided she would wait in the waiting room.

Mrs Schrama said Mr Harris saved her husband's life. "The girls wouldn't have their dad if not for him."

He has stitches on his face and inside his cheek, as well as sore ribs, which he said felt worse than the facial injury.

The stitches were due to be removed yesterday.

This was not the first time Mr Schrama had been injured by a vehicle while cycling. He has also been knocked off his bike by a courier driver.

"I've had nine lives, I think. I didn't know the severity at the time ... You don't realise a small incident like that can be life-threatening."

The accident has not put Mr Schrama off road biking.

"I'll be biking to work, don't worry about that."

Tauranga City Council transportation manager Martin Parkes said the 9th Ave and Cameron Rd intersection had been identified as a problem area. Other intersections that were currently seen as barriers to safe cycling were Cameron Rd/Chadwick Rd, Devonport Rd/11th Ave, Fraser St/Chadwick Rd/Oropi Rd, SH29/Poike Rd and SH2/Golf Rd/Maunganui Rd, he said.

"These locations have received funding to deliver projects that not only deal with cycle safety issues but we expect to create safer environments for all road user groups.

"The proposal for the intersection of Cameron Rd/9th Ave will see the roundabout replaced with traffic lights.

"As part of this project, on-road cycle lanes will be provided through the intersection. Works are planned for 2016/17."