THE mother of a Llanfair Discoed man who was left paralysed after a cycling accident is backing national Road Safety week.

Michaela Black, whose son Daniel, was 22 when the accident happened in 2009, is supporting the campaign calling on all road users to look out for each other, to help stop the five deaths and 61 injuries that happen every day on the UK roads, and particularly to protect people on foot and bike.

Mrs Black, of Llanfair Discoed, wants people using the roads to be extra vigilant.

She said: “I want people to know what happened to Daniel and I want other people to be safe on the roads.”

Mr Black, now 26, was wearing reflective strips on his clothing and using LED lights on his bike when he was hit by a car as he cycled to work at Chepstow Tesco on the A48 on December 2, 2009.

His injuries were so severe that he was left paralysed from the chest down, as well as suffering a serious brain injury and a stroke.

“I’ll never forget that call,” said Mrs Black.

“It’s like your world stops, and you just panic.”

He spent six weeks in a coma and underwent life-saving treatment.

“It’s horrendous to be at your child’s bedside when the doctors tell them they’ll never walk again.”

Mrs Black,46, recalled the heartbreaking moment the crushing news was relayed to her son.

“I knew that when he woke up, the doctors would have to tell him. How does any parent tell their child he is never going to walk again?” she said.

“The most horrendous thing in the world is to be at your son’s bedside when the doctors tell him that he is never going to walk again. We were all breaking out hearts and Daniel was the one who passed me a tissue.”

Mr Black was left unable to walk and can only move around in a specialised wheelchair. He lives in a specially-adapted home and has carers, who provide round-the-clock support.

“It’s not just all the big things that impact on your life. He used to play golf with his dad all the time and he loved fishing. He can’t do that anymore and he can’t play his bass guitar, which he loved. His life has changed forever.”

Mr Black, who last year received a Pride of Britain award for donating £22,000 from funds for his own treatment to cerebral palsy sufferer Brecon Vaughan, then six of Mathern, added: “I had reflective strips on my clothing and LED lights on my bike, but it obviously wasn’t enough. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, said: “We’re asking all road users to look out for and protect each other, particularly the most vulnerable.”

“That means drivers sticking to 20 or below in towns and villages, looking carefully at junctions and being considerate.”

“Ultimately, we’re all just human beings trying to get around, with equal right to use to roads, not competing tribes.”

National Road Safety Week runs until November 23.