Government minister Denis Naughten is still out of work after being hit by a car while cycling two weeks ago and will be out for at least several more weeks.
Having been hit by a car while out cycling with his wife two weeks ago, Minister for Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Denis Naughten has spoken about his ordeal saying his life flashed before him.
The Garda investigation into the collission is ongoing and Naughten understandably made no comments about who was to blame or the specifics of what happened.
He said he "just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time", adding he had injured his back and would need more time before returning to work.
He was with his wife along a road between Roscommon town and Fuerty at the time of the crash on January 2nd.
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“My life did flash before my eyes before I hit the ground," he told journalist Cormac McQuinn in The Sunday Independent.
"It was the shock of the accident. It was the fact that you're lying on the road and people are working around you.
“It just shows you how fickle life is... all of that goes through your mind.
"I'm very, very lucky that the injuries that I picked up were not far more serious," he said.
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He added he was “battered and bruised” but would survive.
Naughten revealed his wife was shocked at witnessing the incident and his treatment at the scene by paramedics.
"It's a scary time when you're lying on the road and they're putting a neck brace and a back brace on you. You just don't know what's happening."
Naughten's father was killed in a car crash 20 years ago while a sitting TD and it was his Dail seat he ran for and won.
While his Cabinet colleague Minister for Transport Shane Ross had Tweeted to Naughten regarding “his accident on a bicycle” and saying he looked forward to having him back at work within days, Naughten’s injuries are more serious.
He has already been away from the office for almost two weeks. And with his back injury expected to be out of the office and working for home for a further number of weeks.
He said doctors had told him his injury required rest and it was important for him to follow that medical advice.
Shane Ross's Tweet 10 days ago; Naughten still needs weeks to recover
Wishing my Independent cabinet colleague @DenisNaughten rapid recovery after his accident on a bicycle . See you back in action next week!
— Shane Ross (@Shane_RossTD) January 5, 2017
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