A father is in an induced coma following a serious bicycle accident near the intersection of Cuthberts Road and White Lane west of Ballarat on Saturday morning.
Well-known building designer Luke Taylor was airlifted to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital mid-morning, where he underwent 14 hours of surgery.
Ballarat police confirmed they are investigating the collision between Mr Taylor and a four-wheel-drive.
A spokeswoman for the Alfred Hospital confirmed Mr Taylor remained in a critical but stable condition on Monday morning.
Rach Taylor, Mr Taylor’s sister, said he was losing blood and had to be resuscitated.
Mr Taylor was then rushed into an operating theatre where he underwent 14 hours of surgery.
“Luke's pelvis was fractured and split open by the impact, and he has fractured femurs in both legs and a fractured tibia and fibula in one leg,” Ms Taylor said.
“He has a major wound from his buttock around to his groin. His left elbow and humerus were shattered. His kidney was bruised and his bladder was split. A CT scan appears to have ruled out any significant brain trauma at this stage. He has a broken rib and vertebra, but his chest and lungs appear to be doing ok.”
Mr Taylor is the primary carer of his eight-year-old son as his ex-wife has been recovering from breast cancer recently.
The child started at a new school in Ballarat this year but is now with his mother in Geelong as Mr Taylor recovers in hospital.
Fellow cyclist Arthur Shaw, who runs Gove Cycles and Bike Rack Cafe on Doveton Street, said the accident had sent shock waves through Ballarat’s cycling community.
"Whenever cyclists hear about an accident like that happening there is always anxiety that it's somebody we know," he said.
"We obviously think about what happened to Christian Ashby a year ago.
"Luke is well-known around Ballarat, and has a strong connection to the Forge Pizzeria on Armstrong Street.”
Christian Ashby, who suffered severe injuries after he was hit by a drug-affected driver in Lake Wendouree last year, took to Facebook to voice his support for Mr Taylor and his family.
“I am so, so sorry. It is so tragic and unfortunate,” he wrote.
“This news is so numbing for my family and I. We can empathise with what you and your family are going through.
“It's such a critical period for Luke. Stay strong and keep fighting Luke. You are in my family's continuous thoughts.”
Ms Taylor said any donations would be used to assist Mr Taylor's family and to cover his ongoing day-to-day life expenses while he is fighting for his life.
“Any donations will also assist covering accommodation expenses in Melbourne while we, his family, stay by his bedside so he is not alone during this fight of his life,” she said.
You can donate here.
