lay bleeding from horrific injuries after a road accident.

And yesterday Libby Cook begged the thief to have a change of heart and hand it back.

Speaking from her King Edward VII Memorial Hospital bed, Ms Cook said: "I really have to say it's disgusting that it's come to this on this Island I love so much.

"You would never think that anything like this could happen in Bermuda.'' The distinctive ring -- her grandmother's engagement ring -- was stolen as she lay dazed after an afternoon crash on Middle Road, Smith's Parish, on Sunday, November 2.

Her bike was in collision with a car which apparently crossed the centre line.

Ms Cook went through the windscreen, smashing her leg, breaking her wrist and fingers and suffering severe cuts to her back.

A man -- who stopped to help after the accident -- removed the ring from a broken finger and was about to take off Ms Cook's watch when another onlooker told him not to.

But Ms Cook, 27, of Paget, said she was so stunned she could not identify the thief.

She added: "The driver of the car was supporting me. I had my head down and I was trying to concentrate on breathing and spitting glass out of my mouth.

"But somebody told him not to take my watch off and there were so many people around someone must have seen him.

"He sounded very professional at first -- as if he knew what he was doing.'' Ms Cook suffered smashed a leg bone which needed five hours of surgery to pin back together again, as well her other injuries.

But she said her worst worry was that she would never see the ring again, one of the few mementos she has of her father -- who died when she was a child -- and his family.

She added that the ring -- although not of high value -- was of enormous sentimental worth and also very distinctive.

Ms Cook explained the ring, about 75 years old, was created using several small mine-cut diamonds -- rougher-looking than a gem-cutters product.

She said: "The diamonds were cut using crude tools and they're extremely rare. They're very rough-looking -- one of them is quite grey.'' The diamonds are mounted in a straight line, with one large stone flanked by smaller gems.

Ms Cook said if the thief wanted to return the ring, he could put it in an envelope with her name on it and post it at the outside local box at Paget Post Office.

And she pleaded for anyone with information on the thief, or anyone who may have been offered the ring, to talk to Police.

A Police spokeswoman said anyone who could help the Police inquiry should contact Hamilton Police station on 295-0011 or the special anonymous Crime Stoppers number, 1-800-623-8477. Crime Stoppers may offer a reward for information.