Josh Quigley was on the last leg of his round-the-world cycle when the accident happened.

CHARITY cyclist Josh Quigley, badly injured after being hit by a car at 70mph in America, must have had an angel on his shoulder, police investigating the accident have said.

The 27-year-old from Livingston was making his seventh attempt to ride around the world when he was struck by a maroon Cadillac Sedan on Highway 36 on December 21.

He suffered 10 broken ribs, a punctured lung and a fractured pelvis and skull. The 60-year-old woman driver of the car called the police and he was taken to hospital by helicopter.

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The 27-year-old has been told he must remain in the US to recuperate

The driver told police Mr Quigley was unable to speak at the scene of the crash and was “bleeding from everywhere”.

He has had operations on a broken heel and ankle as well as a stent fitted in an artery in his neck which feeds blood to his brain.

He was released from hospital on Monday but doctors have said he cannot fly for six weeks, delaying his hopes of returning to Scotland to recuperate.

Laura Smith, of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said: “He must have had an angel on his shoulder as this was a very serious accident.”

Sgt Bryan Washko, of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said officers had responded to a major crash on Highway 36 in Flat, in Coryell County, Texas..

He said: “A 2006 Cadillac Sedan operated by a 60-year-old woman was travelling southbound on Highway 36.

“Josh Quigley, 27, of Livingston, Scotland, was also southbound on Highway 36. Mr Quigley was legally operating a bicycle on Highway 36 with an operational blinking red rear lamp fixed to his bicycle.”

He said the driver had been approaching Mr Quigley from behind when she collided with him, causing him to be ejected onto the right side of the road.

“The crash investigation is complete and concludes it was an accident,” Sgt Washko said. “It was not an intentional act so no charges have been filed.”

He said Mr Quigley sustained “incapacitating” injuries and was flown to Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas by Med Flight Ambulance.

Mr Quigley set off on his latest round-the-world attempt from Edinburgh in April and was on the last leg of the journey from Los Angeles to New York - just 2,000 miles short of his 18,000 target - when the accident happened.

The former Deans Community High School pupil, known as the Tartan Explorer, has said he is the “luckiest guy in the world” for surviving the crash.

He said: “It hurts to talk, it hurts to breathe, it hurts to lie in this bed, my ribs and my back are in agony and my ankle is sore but mentally, psychologically and emotionally I’ve never been better because I feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

“These things are here to help me in mental toughness, resilience, strength and this is another obstacle, probably biggest one I’ve faced so far, but I will find a way to finish what I started.”