The 44-year-old from Porthcawl, who won Britain's first gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics, was hit by a van whilst training near Bridgend last month that left him suffering spinal fractures, a broken pelvis and breastbone, and a detached lung.

He now needs a body brace at home in order to move around and is slowly recovering but admitted that while he remembers little of the accident, the aftermath was a harrowing ordeal.

"I remember waking up and not knowing where I was or what day of the week it was," he told BBC Wales.

"I didn't recognise anyone, not even my wife or my parents so it was quite terrifying.

"I didn't know anything about the accident - I just knew I was in bed and couldn't get up.

"I had needles and drains and everything everywhere but I didn't know why - I came round once and ripped all the needles out of my arm and tried to get off the bed."

It could take up to three years for Richardson to fully recover from the event and while he said it was pleasing to hear about the media coverage and public goodwill which built up for him while he was unconscious, he admitted it also felt a little strange.

"When I came back from Beijing I never really had so much support," he said.

"So to have a big accident and the support to have gone worldwide, it's just really difficult to get your head around at times."

His next step is to get back onto his bike despite the accident.

It is a brave decision considering that he suffered a similar an accident in 2001, when he was hit by a car leaving him with serious leg and back injuries, as well as no feeling down his left hand side.

"I think the first few miles are going to be awkward," Richardson said of his potential return to the sport.

"I've only ever been up the road where I had the accident in 2001 once and I'll probably never go up that hill again.

"I've got it into my head that it's just an accident and can't be helped."

South Wales Police say a 59-year-old man from the Cowbridge area is on police bail until October 13 in connection with the collision that injured Richardson.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
September 2011: Paralympic cyclist Richardson out of hit-and-run coma
August 2011: Richardson still in "good spirits" after hit-and-run ruins London 2012 chances
August 2011: British gold medal winning cyclist in "critical condition" after victim of hit-and-run