Roy Duhamel, 79, took up bicycling in his early 60’s in Missouri on flat dirt “rails to trails” like Katy Trail. The Westfield resident regularly rides county roads north of Noblesville and recently had a very bad biking experience. Duhamel wanted to share his experience, particularly with other bike riders, and ask for assistance in finding the person who may have saved his life:

“Don’t go biking in extreme heat! I did and paid for it!

I am trying to find the Samaritan who may have saved my life on June 28. I park at Potters Bridge in Noblesville, and bike from the parking lot up Allisonville Rd. to Riverwood Ave. and E. 221st St. to Overdorf Rd. and points north – usually about 10.5 miles.

It was 94 degrees when I started; it got to 105 degrees that afternoon. I carry two 24 oz. bottles of water and Gatorade and sip on them frequently. I called my wife at about six miles out, while on Overdorf, and she talked me into turning around to return to the car. Right after that the problem started!
I never felt dizzy or nauseous, but I do remember seeing an intersection about 100 yards up the road and then everything blacked out. The next clear knowledge I had was being in the back of an ambulance on the way to Riverview Hospital. I was there for two days taking tests and recovering.
My left arm and leg were both covered with skinned and raw injuries. My upper left shoulder was actually burned from contact with the blacktop. My head had an injury inside the helmet area. The helmet was damaged on the left side and cannot be used again.

I talked to the sheriffs’ deputy who responded to the accident. He told me I was found on the blacktop face down and unconscious by a passerby in a pickup truck. He got me off the highway, retrieved my bike and put me inside his air conditioned truck until the ambulance arrived. He must have departed right after that since the sheriffs’ deputy did not speak with him. The deputy said he questioned me and I was “confused” – it’s likely I had a minor concussion. I have no memory of the earlier conversation with him or the EMT who responded.”

Duhamel said he “feels fine, all things considered” and has resumed his exercises and bike riding – just not in extreme heat – as he rebuilds his stamina for 22 mile trips.

“Just a few days ago I had my first bike ride – a short one, only 5.95 miles,” he said. “I was just absolutely beat.”

If anyone knows who the Good Samaritan was who helped Duhamel that fateful day, please call him at 804-9055.

“I would really like to thank him,” he said.