Family demands answers over 'horrendous' collision which killed cyclist on Portsdown Hill
LOVED ones of a cyclist killed on Portsdown Hill have described the agony of watching his last breath - and want to know what happened the night their loved one received his fatal injuries.
Brett Thorne, 39, was cycling from Fareham to his mother’s house in Jason Place, Waterlooville, when he was involved in a crash with a motorcyclist on Portsdown Hill Road.
The dad-of-three died the next day after being on life support for 15 hours at Southampton General Hospital, and the motorcyclist was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital for serious injuries – but Brett’s family have no idea how the accident happened.
Susan Sykes, Brett’s mother, said she had been visited by a police officer once in the week after the accident at 8.30pm on Tuesday, February 4, but had had no further contact despite repeatedly ‘ringing and ringing’ the number left by the officer.
The 65-year-old said: ‘We have not been able to get over it because we have had no answers.
‘When the police took down the witness appeal signs on the road, I thought maybe they knew something.
‘I haven’t been sleeping – I wish someone would come forward.’
Susan said it was ‘heartbreaking’ that the accident occurred so close to her home.
She said: ‘At the time I was watching a programme about A&E departments and I didn’t even know my son was down the road about to be rushed to hospital. It’s heartbreaking.’
Nette Wilson, his fiancee and partner of three years, said: 'It was horrendous watching him struggling to take his last breath. It was the worst thing I have had to watch.'
Brett’s family members believe that unsafe driving along Portsdown Hill Road is common place, with Nette saying the road’s 40mph speed limit ‘absolutely needs to change.’
She said: ‘The other week, I was stood by a tribute we had left on a tree by the accident site, and a motorcycle came by so fast.
‘Drivers just do not care about that bit of road.
‘If they changed the speed limit along that road, maybe Brett would still be here.’
Susan agreed: ‘They go so fast along there. It’s so dangerous up there.
The pair hope they receive answers to have ‘some form of closure’ - and that people remember Brett for his ‘big heart.’
She said: ‘He would give his last penny to help anyone.
‘He had a very big heart – he had his demons but overall he loved me and he loved his family.’
Susan added: ‘He used to love music. He loved going down to Portsdown Hill to listen to music with Nette.’
A spokesman from Hampshire Constabulary said enquires into the collision are ongoing, and the family members will be updated if the case progresses.
Anyone with information can call 101, quoting 44200044485, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111