I think some of this accident is attributed to the general attitude of some white van drivers in the UK towards cyclists. I mean to just drive off too? OMG!
As some on the forum may know, Im based in Spain, and actually took up cycling down here. So most of my thousands of km of cycling are in Spain. Last year I cycle toured up to the UK.
I got off the ferry in Portsmouth, and 30 minutes later, Im on a country road coming out of town, and there is a white van behind me. Im keeping as much left as i could, but the roads in england are horrible. So narrow, so bendy, he couldnt get past safety for a good couple of minutes. Eventually he did over take, then after he did so, he just slammed his breaks on, on a hill, causing me to have to break hard too, and dismount. Then he drives off again! :S There was nothing in his way, there was no reason for him to stop like that. He just did that to piss me off. 30 minutes into the UK having cycled 2000km through Spain and France!! I never had any bother with any motorist here in Spain. But that just set a bad tone for how people are in the UK with cyclists.
I really hope this guy pulls through, doctors say "he'll never ride again".. well he did it before, and im sure he'll do it again!