A GRANDMOTHER of 10 suffered serious injuries after cycling into a rope which had been tied across the promenade.

Jan Binning was thrown from her bike and suffered a broken collar bone, black eye and cuts and bruises in the incident at Friars Cliff, near Steamer Point.

She has a deep rope burn across her neck and paramedics told her she was lucky not to have suffered permanent damage to her windpipe or broken her neck.

Bournemouth Echo:

Now the 63-year-old has spoken out to warn others of the danger and has spoken directly to the people who tied the rope.

“This was probably done by youngsters who thought it was a prank but they don’t appreciate the damage they could do to somebody” said Jan, of Priors Close, Friars Cliff.

“I want them to know how serious it is - I suffered a lot of injuries and it makes me quite emotional to think what could have happened.”

Jan and her partner Steve Page were cycling home from Mudeford Quay at 10.15pm on Wednesday June 26 when the incident took place.

Bournemouth Echo:

She told the Daily Echo: “We chose to go along the prom because there are so many potholes on the road. I have bright lights on my bike but I was looking towards the ground to make sure I didn’t ride into anything.

“I was riding in front of Steve when suddenly I felt a pain and I was thrown to the ground. I think I passed out for a short time because I couldn’t really work out what had happened.”

She said Steve was in shock and called an ambulance but it was two hours before it arrived.

“I was lying on the ground in pain and I was shaking uncontrollably” said Jan. “Three boys came along and helped us. They covered me with their sweatshirts and two of them went up to the road to look out for the ambulance - I can’t thank them enough.”

Jan was taken to A&E at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital and was finally allowed home at 6am.

She added: “I look after my grandchildren which is proving to be difficult because I am in so much pain.”

“There is little you can do with a broken collar bone except wait for it to heal and I have to return to the fracture clinic next week. I would just like this incident to be publicised as a warning to cyclists to beware, to the perpetrator so they realise the harm they have caused, and to anybody who might think about doing anything similar that the consequences can be very serious indeed.”

Police Constable James Prowse, of Christchurch police, said: “This was a mindless and very dangerous act that has left the victim with serious injuries.

“I would also ask anyone who has any information about this incident to please come forward.”

Information to Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 55190097494, or Crimestoppers.