Cyclist needs 60 metal pieces in his back after Black Country hit-and-run crash

Robert Ansell, 66, was riding his bicycle to the shops when he was struck by an unknown vehicle in Dudley Street, Bilston.

The retired labourer has had to undergo an operation in hospital and has not seen his family for a month.

His sister Sally Ansell, 55, from Darlaston, said: “His injuries were horrific. It has been a nightmare for us.”

Mr Ansell, from Bilston, said he overtook a red van but cannot recall what happened next.

A man who lived nearby told his family members he heard a loud bang, before finding him on the floor and a silver car speeding off.

Mr Ansell, a grandfather-of-two, was left with two broken ribs, a broken sternum and five fractures in his back.

Doctors used 60 pieces of metal to repair his back in operation and he will have to wear a brace for the foreseeable future.

West Midlands Police has confirmed it investigating the hit-and-run, which took place just before 8.10am, on January 24.

It has left his family members devastated, particularly his 85-year-old mother who he lives with.

Ms Ansell added: “Rob was just on his bike going to fetch a paper. The next thing we know there was police at the door at my mom’s door saying Rob had been involved in a hit-and-run.

“All he can remember is he was riding up the road. He said he overtook a red van and the rest is history, he cannot remember any more than that.

"An eyewitness who came to help him said they saw a silver car speeding off and overrun a red light at Dudley Street, where they did a left.

"He said he was in the garden, heard a bang, and came out and saw Rob lying on the floor. He said it was so quick. It was a silver/grey car.

"He said it reversed back for a few seconds then dashed off.

“We are all just devastated we cannot find the person who did it.”

Mr Ansell was unable to speak to his family for the first three weeks and his operation was also delayed due to a water infection he contracted in hospital.

He was first taken to New Cross Hospital but is now being treated at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Ms Ansell added: “He has been in hospital a month on Sunday. Due to the coronavirus, we cannot go and see him or anything.

“We didn’t hear from him for the first three weeks. He was flat on his back. He couldn’t even use his phone.

“He had to have 60 pieces of metal to rebuild his back. He also had to have a three-inch metal plate put in.

“My mother is the person who has missed him most. She relied on him heavily, even though she is able bodied, he is the man of the house.”

Police have asked anyone with information to call 101 quoting incident number 738 of 24/01/21.