Champion athlete knocked off bike

Don Greig. Photo / Christchurch Star

Former national marathon champion Don Greig says he was left to die by a hit-and-run driver who knocked him off his bike.

The 52-year-old, who represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games, was thrown into a parked van when he was hit in Christchurch on September 17. He suffered a cracked rib, grazes, bruising and a gash to his leg. Police say he was lucky his injuries were not worse.

"I could have been there dying and [the driver] buggered off and had death on his conscience, or someone else could have run me over," Greig said.

The driver has not been found.

Meanwhile, Wendy Riach is vowing to continue cycling to work each day despite being hit by cars twice in a year. The Christchurch police officer suffered cuts, bruises and grazes when a car knocked her on to the road in 2007. Her injuries kept her off fulltime work for a year, and she was hit again six months into her recovery.

"That was a terrible experience ... the second time I was wearing a fluoro jacket and I had changed to a yellow helmet," she said.

Despite her injuries, Riach won't be put off cycling.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: CHRISTCHURCH STAR