It was with dismay that I read the letter from Paul Hepworth regarding cycle helmets (Helmet Debate, March 2).

Had my husband not been wearing his on the evening of February 28, I suspect he may not have been able to share my concerns about the letter in question, as he would have been either in the ITU department of York Hospital or, quite possibly, the mortuary. The damage to his helmet caused when his head was in collision with a car windscreen was so severe as to suggest that he would have sustained very serious head injuries had he not been wearing it.

We all know that in an ideal world, cars and cyclists would not collide, but this will never be the case as "these things happen" - as was pointed out to us by the police constable in A & E.

Surely it is irresponsible to advise people to disregard the benefits of wearing a helmet simply because cars shouldn't hit them. I shall be forever grateful that my husband had the good sense to wear his.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who came to his assistance on Tuesday evening in Eastfield Avenue, Haxby, from the off-duty nurse and paramedic who waited with him until the ambulance arrived, to the lady who took care of his bicycle overnight and the gentleman who very kindly offered me a cup of tea. I know other people came out of their homes and stopped their cars to offer assistance and blankets on a very cold evening, and to all these people I am very grateful.

Louise Clarke,

Brecks Close,

Wigginton, York.

Updated: 10:05 Saturday, March 04, 2006