David Abrams and his wife Sandra

Age-Group GB triathelete David Abrams from Hill Head in Fareham borough was out for a cycle ride with his wife Sandra at Alver Valley Country Park when the pair encountered a family with five dogs.

David, 71, said: ‘We had just got to Apple Dumpling bridge when we saw a family with lots of dogs and so we moved to the opposite side of the path.

‘As I got level with them the next thing I knew a tan-coloured dog had hit my front wheel and a black dog had hit the back wheel and I was on the floor.

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David Abram with his thigh bandaged after spending three days in hospital

‘I looked down and I was covered in mud and blood because the one of the dogs had hit the handlebars swinging them round with such force that it had taken a massive chunk out my thigh.’

David’s wife Sandra, also 71, said: ‘I saw the dogs just go for him and the bike but I am not sure why.

‘Then he was there all muddy and blood spurting out of his cycle shorts.’

The pair managed to get David up and back on his bike.

David Abram with his thigh bandaged after spending three days in hospital

Sandra added: ‘I said to the owner you ought to apologise or say something.

Begrudgingly he said sorry but his dogs had every right to be in the park as well and I felt so angry.’

Sandra took David to A&E and he ended up spending three days in Queen Alexandra hospital in Cosham and had to have surgery to reconstruct the internal muscle in his thigh.

David added: ‘It was lucky it was not a child or it could have been much more serious and I think the owner needs to be aware of the impact it has had on me and at the moment I cannot train for the European and World championship triathlons which I hope I am still able to compete in.’

A police spokesperson said: ‘We received a report on Tuesday, February 20 of an incident in which a man was knocked off his bicycle by two dogs.

‘The incident took place at around 11am on Thursday, February 15 in a wooded area in Alver Valley Country Park.

‘The 71-year-old cyclist suffered an injury to his leg as a result.