A DAD of three has urged cyclists to “always wear a helmet” after he was scalped in a high-speed crash.

Mark Ward suffered head injuries so horrific his skin “concertinaed back” and left his skull exposed.

The 40-year-old woke up in the back of an ambulance with no memory of the crash before doctors spent three-and-a-half hours putting 200 stitches in his head.

Gruesome photographs of Mark show the skin on his head peeled back and a gaping hole in his arm also sustained in the incident.

Mark, who was not wearing a helmet, said he is “lucky to be alive” and now says he has “learnt his lesson” about wearing helmets and urged all cyclists to wear them.

He also thanked two good Samaritans for rushing to his aide moments after he smashed into a kerb and came flying off his now-destroyed bike in Portsmouth, Hants.

Mark was out riding with pal Michael Trim, 41, in the area and came off his bike shortly after they parted ways to cycle home.

The groundworker, from Horndean, near Portsmouth, said: "I honestly can’t remember anything, I can’t remember riding my bike or anything that happened from leaving my mate.

"I feel sore, it’s mainly my skin feeling a bit tight on my head. I haven’t got mobility in my left arm – there was muscle hanging out of my arm.

'SKIN CONCERTINAED BACK'

"All I can remember was waking up in the ambulance. It was a big blow to my head. I was lucky to be alive."

Mark says he regrets not wearing a helmet: "I have been grilled about that, I’ve learnt my lesson. I’m getting a full face one."

He added: "My parents came down to the hospital and my fiancee, Hayley, came down and looked after me and I got a bit emotional… you should always wear a helmet.

"I cried when they turned up, they thought I was going to die."

His partner, Hayley Noon, 35, said: "Where his skin got concertinaed back, they had to pull it right back and you could see inside. They were stitching him up for three and a half hours."

I’ve learnt my lesson. I’m getting a full face one.

Mr Ward praised driver Andy Allen and a motorcyclist known only as Lance, who stayed with him to call an ambulance.

He said: "They’re brilliant, they managed to save my life. If it wasn’t for them I would have got run over. I’m just sorry there’s not more people like them in the world."

Andy, 39, from Portsmouth, said: "I've had first aid experience in the past so although it was a nasty wound, my main priority was to keep him still.

"He was trying to stand up and he kept calling himself an idiot.

"It’s very humbling he said we saved his life but I think anyone would have done the same. I am not a hero, it’s just nice to know he is safe."

Mike said of his crash: "The police said I’ve hit the kerb and gone over the handlebars – my bike is totally mangled."

His brother Mike is appealing for witnesses to come forward, as are Hampshire Constabulary.

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