Dan Walker has received an outpouring of sympathy after he reported that he’d been knocked from his bike by a vehicle, underlining that his helmet ‘saved his life’.
Nonetheless, some detractors have felt compelled to ‘lecture’ him with the misleading assertion that bike helmets ‘aren’t vital,’ contradicting generally accepted safety recommendations.
In a new tweet following his return home from hospital, the Channel 5 presenter said: ‘It’s odd to get lectured by people telling me that bike helmets aren’t important when the emergency services at the scene yesterday told me I probably wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t wearing one.
The 45-year-old continued: ‘Funny old world! I hope you’re having a good Tuesday. Soup through a straw for lunch⛑.’
One person responded to Dan’s tweets emphasising their personal knowledge of the importance of helmets in several different areas of life.
‘My wife, a speech and language therapist who is a specialist in dealing with brain injuries, could do a whole lecture on why the helmet is important when riding bikes, skateboarding or even while playing cricket. I’m glad you chose to wear a helmet and that you are alive,’ they wrote.
Another person said: ‘I can’t believe the mentality about helmets. Why on earth wouldn’t you wear one! When I see parents riding with their kids – no helmets between them! I know several people who only survived accidents by wearing a helmet. Glad you are on the mend!! X.’
‘Came off my bike years ago, broke the helmet down the back – that would’ve been my skull,’ said another who had been in an accident in the past. I was fortunate to merely have a concussion and a scratch on my side.’
Dan was replaced on Monday’s 5 News by Tessa Chapman, who wished him well on his recuperation as the show drew to a close.
‘All of the team wish him a quick recovery and send him all of our best wishes. Get well soon Dan,’ she said on-air.
Dan’s former Strictly Come Dancing co-stars, including Rose Ayling-Ellis, Tom Fletcher, John Whaite, and judge Motsi Mabuse, have all shown their support for him.
Dan claimed that he couldn’t sleep after returning home from the hospital because of the quantity of medicine he was taking.
Instead, he read some of the hundreds of notes he’d gotten from well-wishers, stating that he would have sobbed if his eyes weren’t so swollen.