{"id":84523,"date":"2024-03-15T12:16:59","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T12:16:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=84523"},"modified":"2024-03-18T18:54:59","modified_gmt":"2024-03-18T18:54:59","slug":"cardiff-music-lover-suffered-traumatic-brain-injury-grateful-for-new-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2024\/03\/15\/cardiff-music-lover-suffered-traumatic-brain-injury-grateful-for-new-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Cardiff man who nearly died after being knocked off his bike warns cyclists to wear helmets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

‘I used to be one of those people who would never wear one because I thought it was uncool’ <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A MAN who suffered a traumatic brain injury after he was knocked off his bike without a helmet is warning others to wear one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tom Guy, 35, is used to going to gigs in the city centre, and had a self-professed \u201crock and roll lifestyle\u201d before he was knocked off his bike just under a year ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf it had gone just a little bit further, I may not have been able to have this conversation. Now I feel better \u2014 but I also feel like I am a different person,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the crash, if it had gone just a little bit further, I may not have been able to have this conversation.”<\/p>Tom Guy, 35, traumatic brain injury survivor<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tom, who has lived in Cardiff his whole life, suffered a traumatic brain injury. He no longer works full-time and still has mobility and memory issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now he wants young people to be aware of the risks associated with not wearing a helmet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I was growing up I used to do BMX biking up big ramps at skateparks. Some of my friends growing up had consistent concussions from banging their head on the floor. Even with helmets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat does affect you. There are only so many blows to the head a human can take. Rugby players of course are also quite affected by this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI just had one big blow to the head but it is something I have been thinking about a lot. Even in sports like skateboarding \u2014 lots of skaters don\u2019t think wearing a helmet is cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople need to be aware of the dangers of head injury. I used to be one of those people who would never wear a helmet because I thought it was uncool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut the realisation of how close I was to not being here, or to needing round-the-clock care \u2014 that was scary.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not cool to wear a helmet according to skateboard culture”<\/p>Jason Carpenter, Rampworld Cardiff<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n

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