"I FEEL very lucky."

Those are the words of a Hampshire cyclist who has told how he was hit by a car after being "pushed" into the road by two pedestrians.

Forty-two-year-old Tavo Velez was cycling home from his job at Oxfam in Shirley, when he said two men confronted him on the shared cycle path on Rownhams Lane, and refused to give him room.

Then, without warning, they threw him into the road and watched him get hit by a Jaguar, leaving Tavo in hospital with a broken foot.

While he was lying in the middle of the road, one of the men then went up to Tavo, and told him once more that he "should be using the road", the cyclist claims.

Now, police have launched a hunt for two men after the incident which happened just after 6pm on Tuesday. Tavo, who lives in Romsey, said that onlookers tried to chase down the men, but the pair got away.

Despite spending the evening in hospital, suffering bruising and a broken foot, the charity worker said he feels "really lucky".

He said: "I don't know why anyone would do this? All I remember afterwards is that the man came over to me as I was lying on the ground and said 'you should be cycling on the road'. How can somebody say that after what he has just done?

"To be honest, I don't remember much after that, just that I was in hospital. I am so grateful for the kindness given to me in that moment.

"I really hope the police can find who did this. There were two men, I think in their forties, but only one pushed me. The road is 40 miles-per-hour I think and the car must have braked quite a lot for me to be this lucky."

Hampshire Police said in a statement: "The cyclist was riding along the cycle path on Rownhams Road, when it is alleged two male pedestrians, walking in the opposite direction, caused him to fall into the road. As a result, he was in a collision with a Jaguar and suffered an injury to his foot. Investigations are ongoing."

Tavo, who has lived in Romsey for four years, said it won't stop him from cycling.

He added: "I love to cycle, it keeps me fit, I don't need to go to the gym, and it's good for the environment. I won't stop."

A member of Sotonia Cycling Club, based in North Baddesley, said they came across the incident on Tuesday.

The cyclist, who did not want to be named, added: "The shared path is one of the few useful ones in Southampton for cyclists to keep safe as it links Rownhams and North Baddesley and vehicles often travel along the narrow lane at speeds of over 60mph. Drivers are just as likely to scream at cyclists to use the path if they dare to choose the road."

Joanne Rowe, secretary of Southampton CTC, added: "Shared paths are not ideal for cyclists or pedestrians.

"My personal opinion is that roads are for motor vehicles and cyclists. Motorists should be educated to share the road safely."