At 78, Roger Rennie thought his biggest cycling days were behind him… until a race in Johannesburg nearly changed everything.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (15 May 2025) – At 78, most people would be slowing down. Not Roger Rennie. The Ballito-based cyclist had spent over four decades racing through life on two wheels… fit, active and passionate about the sport he loved.
But a recent accident during a national time trial in Johannesburg changed everything in an instant. He fractured two vertebrae. He was rushed to surgery. And doctors warned he may never walk again.
Today, not only is Roger walking, he’s back on a bike. And he’s got one clear message for anyone who rides: always wear a helmet.
“Cycling has been a long-held passion of mine,” Roger shared. “Having raced and ridden for so long, when I’m asked for advice, I always say, whatever your riding goals, you should buy the best helmet you can afford because you are trusting it with your life every time you get on a bike.”
It’s a belief that may well have saved his life.
Roger had travelled from KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng to compete in the race. But during the time trial, something went wrong. He crashed. Hard. Netcare 911 advanced life support paramedic Kyle Shiel, along with Nick Berry, Vhuthu Raphalalani and SARZA Search and Rescue’s Wayne Kruger, were first on the scene.
“When we first assessed Roger, he was lying on the ground with severe neck pain,” Kyle recalls. “He’d broken his neck years ago, so we knew we had to be cautious. We used a vacuum mattress – gold standard for spinal injuries – and followed every spinal motion protection protocol.”
But there was more. Roger kept repeating the same questions: a sign of possible concussion. And the damage to his helmet gave a clear picture of how violent the fall had been.
“If he hadn’t been wearing a helmet, he would certainly have suffered major head injuries, in addition to the suspected neck or spinal injury we were dealing with,” Kyle added.
Back home in Ballito, Roger’s family received the dreaded call. His daughter Shannon remembers the helplessness.
“We were praying that he would receive the correct medical attention,” she said. “Then we got a call from my dad… he told us he had broken his neck badly and was being rushed to surgery.”
That surgery, performed by Dr Tommy Mbuyane, would last eight hours and involve stabilising the C1 and C2 vertebrae, just below the skull. A haematoma had been pressing on Roger’s spinal cord and the stakes were sky-high.
“Mr Rennie presented with complex fractures and dislocation of the first two vertebral bones, C1 and C2,” Dr Mbuyane explained. “The fact that he could feel and move all his limbs when he arrived was a gift. He was fortunate. And much of that was down to the helmet and excellent work by the first responders.”
Roger was kept in an induced coma overnight and woke up in ICU under the care of trauma surgeon Dr Naadiyah Laher and intensive care specialist Dr Sooraj Motilall. Miraculously, he could move. Within days, he was walking.
“Kyle and the Netcare 911 team will forever hold a very dear space in our hearts for caring for my dad and helping to save his life,” Shannon shared. “We are also so thankful to Dr Laher, Dr Motilall, Dr Mbuyane and the entire team at Netcare Alberton Hospital for their expertise and care.”
When Roger was discharged a week later, Kyle and Wayne from SARZA were there at the airport to see him off.
A few weeks later, he celebrated his 78th birthday. Thankfully, he was not in a hospital bed but at home with his family, continuing his recovery on an indoor smart bike.
“Even though my road cycling days are behind me, I want to take this opportunity to share my experience and encourage anyone who rides to wear a good quality, well-fitting helmet when cycling any distance, whether long or short. It could save your life, as it saved mine,” Roger said.
He’s not wrong.
Helmets are more than accessories, they’re life-saving gear. And thanks to a well-worn one and the swift, skilled hands of emergency and hospital staff, Roger Rennie is not just surviving. He’s thriving.
Cycling safety tips:
-
Always wear a helmet and protective gear.
-
Make sure your helmet fits snugly and fastens properly under the chin.
-
Replace your helmet after any impact – even if there’s no visible damage.
-
Use the buddy system – don’t ride alone.
-
Carry emergency medical info or register on the Netcare app.
First aid for spinal injuries:
-
Do not move someone unless they are in immediate danger.
-
Signs of possible spinal injury: unnatural angles, pain in neck/back, or visible spinal deformities.
-
Call emergency services immediately: Netcare 911 – 082 911 or via the app.
-
Keep the person still and calm until help arrives.
by 