A FORMER nursing assistant told how she rushed to the aid of a badly injured cyclist after he collided with a car at a busy junction.

Maddia Georgiou immediately stopped to help after witnessing the aftermath of the crash in Rectory Road, Rochford.

The cyclist, aged in his fifties, collided with a green Renault Megane at 10.30am on Sunday.

Mrs Georgiou, 38, of Ashingdon Road, Ashingdon, was one of several members of the public who helped the casualty while they waited for paramedics to arrive at the scene.

She said: “It was a split second decision to stop and help. I just thought if it was my son or my husband I would want others to help them.

“A young girl was holding his head still and a man came with a blanket. It was a team effort. It’s great that the community came together like that. Some people directed traffic. The cyclist still had a helmet on and the lady held his head until the ambulance arrived.”

Mrs Georgiou is a former health care assistant at Southend Hospital and also worked for the ambulance service. She added: “I was there for about 40 minutes. I thought that the man might have pelvic injuries. I was surprised he was conscious. “He was badly injured but I couldn’t see any visible wounds or fractures but I think he must have had internal injuries. I just kept checking his pulse and respiration.

“I didn’t see the actual accident but I know the driver of the car stopped and waited until police arrived.”

Duty locality officer for the ambulance service Rick Davis said: “It appears that the cyclist clipped something in the road and, when trying to re-gain control, his bike and two vehicles were in collision.

“One ended up on top of him, causing several fractures to his pelvis and ribs. He also suffered spinal and neck injuries, and so was in a lot of pain but was conscious and breathing, and able to talk. He was given significant pain relief, boarded and collared, and taken to Southend Hospital before a transfer to the Royal London in Whitechapel.”

Police are keen to trace the drive of a small silver car who may have witnessed the collision. Call 101.