A nursery school teacher is warning cyclists to wear safety helmets after learning the hard way how they can save lives.

Miss Lynne Trenell, of Devonshire, was involved in a horrific road accident and spent three days in a coma as a result of a head injury.

The 33-year-old teacher at a Hamilton nursery, has been told she was lucky to escape with her life. She remembers nothing about the accident or the day it happened.

Miss Trennel was cycling after work on October 28 riding along Front Street out of Hamilton. Witnesses have told her that a car was driving behind and a motorcyclist overtook the car and hit her rear wheel.

The witnesses said the motorcycle and the cycle careered onto East Broadway.

Miss Trennel said: "Apparently we both went up in the air and then I was dragged towards the centre of East Broadway then the bike must have hit me.

"The people who saw said I became really violent, which is apparently a normal reaction to a serious head injury. I have been trying to apologise to the people I hit.

"A Police officer who had been on the scene could not believe it when I told him I then went into hospital and almost died, because right after the accident I was running about and the motorcycle rider was getting all the treatment because he was quite badly hurt.'' The only sign of Miss Trennel's fractured skull was a little blood trickling from her ear.

She was taken to hospital where she slipped into a coma and was on life support for some time.

Miss Trennel said: "The first 24 hours is the most important and they just did not know whether I was going to make it.'' "All I remember is waking up in hospital with flowers all around me. I remember nothing about it. Actually from what people have told me I am fortunate I cannot remember.'' She also suffered a broken collar bone but had no other major injuries -- a point that obviously makes her annoyed that she was not wearing a safety helmet.

Miss Trennel said: "I do not think I would have a fractured skull if I had been wearing a helmet.

"I have ridden for eight years and I always wore a helmet until a few months ago. If I ever went out without a helmet I would always go back and pick it up.

"It is ridiculous but I began to enjoy the feeling of the wind in my hair and I started to go out without my helmet.

"I have always told children to wear helmets and I think wearing cycle helmets should become law. It is better than having a fractured skull. I have learned a painful lesson.'' Miss Trennel originally came to Bermuda 10 years ago, from Cheshire, England.

She was a nanny but became a teacher four years ago.

She was getting her wrecked cycle replaced yesterday and is hoping to be back on the road in six weeks and back at work before Christmas.

Miss Trennel said: "My collarbone will stop me riding a cycle for a while but I will be able to get on the stationary cycle at the gym.'' PAINFUL LESSON -- Miss Lynne Trennel and her battered bicycle -- with her helmet!