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17th August 2024
10:45am BST
A man has died after falling off his bicycle when two cats fighting in the street collided with him and got caught in his wheels.
Christian Reeves, a father-of-two from Rugby, Warwickshire, was travelling to work on the morning of July 30 when the incident occurred.
According to Sky News, CCTV from a nearby garage reportedly showed two fighting cats had cut across his path, forcing Mr Reeves to fall off his bike.
His son, Dominic Reeves, revealed that his father had not been wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and was taken to hospital with severe head injuries.
Mr Reeves underwent surgery to ease the pressure on his brain, but did not respond well to medication, and died on 5 August.
Dominic announced the news of his father's passing on a GoFundMe page he set up just days after passing.
He wrote: "I wish this never had to have been said, but unfortunately and with the greatest remorse, Chris passed away peacefully and without pain on the morning of Monday 5th August.
"Whilst on his way to work on Tuesday 30th July, early in the morning, two cats ran in-front of dad's bicycle, which led to him falling off his bike and sustaining a serious head injury. When paramedics attended Dad, he was sedated and then airlifted to Walsgrave Hospital (UHCW) in Coventry."
He continued: "From then, he fought a very hard battle, but put up the most valorous, determined and loving fight imaginable. He was doing incredibly well and would not take a step back for anything, however, on the afternoon of Sunday 4th August, he didn't respond to medication as hoped, and took a turn for the worst. We stuck by his side and after deliberation with doctors and nurses, accepted that it was time for dad to rest.
"He was surrounded by love, respect, care and thanks. He did however fight until the very end, staying as long as he could for us. Eventually, with his two boys next him, hand on chest and holding his hand, he finally rested his eyes and entered his next chapter.
"He was never in any pain and now he's looking down on all of us, always there to support us, give us guidance, probably some funny joke and a pat on the back. He'll be on his computer, playing all the games he could ever want, cans of coke and his Bounty, which I put in his hand before he passed, something he'll always have with him.
"To his family he's Chris. To most of his friends he's 'Lurch'. To me and my brother he will always be Dad, the greatest.
"Everyone that knows him, all know how much of loving, caring, funny, big personality, life of the party man Chris is," Dominic added.
"From his very big family, the friends he made through his car, the friends he played with online, his time in the Territorial Army, anyone he met at a pub, bus stop, shop, garage, gathering or any place really...the amount of people that dad loves, and subsequently the amount of people who love him back, really his breathtaking. A man of community, family, friends and passion...they don't really make them like Chris.
"So to Dad, thank you. Thank you for being you, thank you for being the best dad I could ever have asked for. You really are a hero. I love you, we all love you, we're always here for you just as you are for us.
"Dad is going to be cremated and we want to give him the send off he deserves, the very best. To make him proud....All funds donated will go towards dad's send off, and any left over will be donated to Dementia UK. Thank you."
The fundraiser has raised £6,876 (€8065) so far, almost two grand over the intended target.
