Woman left unconscious and with damaged tooth after Lime bike immediately stops mid-ride

WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT: Mia Townsend, 19, was cycling on a Lime bike in New Cross, south east London when she says it allegedly malfunctioned which sent her flying

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She was injured (STOCK IMAGE)(Image: Getty)

A woman claims she was knocked unconscious after a Lime bike suddenly stopped mid-ride – sending her crashing face-first onto the concrete.

Mia Townsend, 19, said she was left with head and facial injuries and is “traumatised” from the incident. She had been cycling home in New Cross, south east London, on October 25 when the bike allegedly malfunctioned.

The impact knocked her unconscious as horrified passers-by rushed to pull her from the road and call emergency services.

She was taken to hospital where a CT scan revealed she had miraculously escaped serious brain injury – despite suffering a concussion, deep cuts and bruising.

The cyclist was left with a gash across her forehead and cheek and one of her teeth pierced straight through her top lip. She needed stitches for her facial wounds and dental surgery after one tooth fell out and another snapped.

Mia said: “It was such a scary experience. I feel like the fact I was lucky enough to walk away from this was God’s way of telling me it wasn’t my time.”

The Londoner said: “I really am not sure what happened. I can’t remember much of the whole incident so a lot of what I understand is from what other people saw.

“A man who helped me off the road said the bike just stopped and I flew threw the air. I landed on my face and skidded along the concrete, which knocked me out and obviously caused my injuries.

“My forehead and cheek were bust open, one tooth had fallen out completely and another had chipped off, with the chip piercing through my top lip.”

She was taken to hospital where she was given morphine for the pain and put under anaesthetic while doctors stitched her injuries and cleaned the wounds. Mia was eventually discharged and has spent the weeks since trying to recover but she says the emotional trauma has hit harder than the physical injuries.

She said: “I feel like I have been recovering physically quite well. It’s of course still painful but I know it could have been a lot worse. But mentally, it’s been difficult.

“I feel traumatised by the accident, especially knowing how bad it could have been. I just feel like these Lime bikes aren’t safe.”

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A Lime spokesperson said: “Safety informs everything we do at Lime – from how we design and maintain our vehicles, to our rider education, and how we work with cities. We are saddened to hear about this incident and our thoughts are with the individual involved.”

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