JUST weeks after falling under the wheels of an oncoming bus, 80-year-old grandad and cyclist Ron Newman has made a ‘miraculous’ recovery.

Shortly after noon on February 12, Ron had been cycling south along Cricklade Road, on his way to hang pictures for a neighbour.

The retired bus driver had attempted to turn right but fell into the path of a Thamesdown Transport service, full of passengers at the time.

Ron suffered severe head injuries and a fractured pelvis, and was rushed to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where he was put into an induced coma for two weeks.

After a number of operations he was transferred back to intensive care in Swindon.

Astonishingly, within a fortnight he was back at his Stratton home, with no recollection of the accident that almost took his life.

“My first memory was being in hospital for some reason, and not knowing quite why,” he said.

“For the first part of my time in hospital I was out of it completely. I am doing much better than I was, but there is some way to go yet.”

Before moving to Swindon 10 years ago, Ron was a haulier and bus driver in Reading. He has tried to reach out to the driver of the bus which struck him to make clear they are not at fault.

“Being a bus driver myself, I can’t begin to imagine how he could handle something like that,” he said.

“I’m told he was very shaken up afterward. It was not his fault at all, he did nothing wrong.”

49-year-old carer Julie Murray was first at the scene of the accident, putting Ron in the recovery position and stemming the bleeding. He believes her actions saved his life that day.

“I want to thank everyone who helped me, especially the woman who got there first,” he said. “I would not be here today if it wasn’t for her.”

A keen cyclist all his life, Ron has been advised to finally hang up his handlebars. “This hasn’t put me off cycling at all, but the police have asked me not to ride any more,” he said.

“The bike has been my loyal friend for many years, but it will be a while before I’m ready to get back on the saddle.”

Along with wife Ivy, 77, he is a member of the Upper Stratton Baptist Church, which will hold a concert in aid of Wiltshire Air Ambulance on April 18.

“There have been so many people praying for me, and that is what has brought me through, I am sure of that,” he said. “A prayer chain which started from our church went all around the country – even as far as America and Greece.”

Trevor Morkham, organiser with Upper Stratton Baptist Church, said Ron’s recovery was nothing short of a miracle.

He said: “It is unbelievable considering how serious the accident was. It was a near-death experience, no doubt about that. He was in a coma for 10 days, and through that time they didn’t know if he was going to pull through.

“For him to be back home four weeks later is miraculous, but also an incredible testament to the man’s physical strength.”