A CHARITY cyclist was knocked off his bike and injured by a driver who suffered “a seizure” at the wheel.

Dad-of-three Phil Royall, 44, was out clocking up miles for his fundraiser for Alzheimer’s Research UK when he was the victim of what initially seemed like a hit-and-run incident near the site of the former Cockenzie Power Station just two days before Christmas.

Other drivers stopped to make sure Phil was all right and his cycling helmet “took the brunt of it”.

He is now suffering from the symptoms of whiplash along with a bashed hip, cuts and bruises.

Phil, from Longniddry, said that after the driver was traced, he later found out that the man at the wheel had had an epileptic seizure at the time.

Phil told the Courier: “I was cycling along and I was aware there was low sun in front of me but I have really powerful lights on my bikes and I even had a string of Christmas tree lights on my bike to add visibility.

“A car went past me and it was really quite close and then the next car [driving behind] was driving very closely to that car.

“The driver struck me with their wing mirror and I was flung from my bike.

“There were a good four or five cars that stopped to make sure I was alright.

“It would have been a pretty terrible Christmas for my children if it had been worse.”

Phil took off half of the Vauxhall Astra’s wing mirror when the car struck him. He has kept it as a souvenir of the incident.

After the accident, Phil was originally angry about the driver’s actions but, when he found out about the seizure, he was understanding and the two men even exchanged words on Monday.

Phil added: “He seems a lovely guy. He was genuinely nice and I hope he is OK.”

Engineer Phil has been raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK by taking part in ‘Cycle Down Dementia’ in honour of a good friend and neighbour of his who died of Alzheimer’s in 2018. The challenge was to cycle 1,000 miles between November 1 and January 1

He had just reached 750 miles on December 23 when the incident took place on the coast road at about 2pm.

Since the accident, Phil has got back on his bike and successfully completed another 25 miles, but he admitted being “mildly terrified” by passing cars on his first ride.

He has so far raised £695 of his £750 target, with 225 miles to go.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2pm on Monday, December 23, 2019, a male cyclist was cycling on the B1348 road from Cockenzie to Prestonpans when a silver-coloured Vauxhall Astra car struck him as it passed, causing the cyclist to fall from his bike. The cyclist sustained minor injuries but declined medical attention.

“The driver of the Astra did not stop. The driver has now been traced and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.”

Donations can be made to Phil’s fundraiser at cyclingdowndementia2019.everydayhero.com/uk/phil-2