POLICE are hunting a taxi that failed to stop after pulling in front of a cyclist who then crashed, badly injuring himself.

Paul Holdgate, 41, flew over his handlebars and broke his arm as he hit the ground.

He needed stitches in his chin, an operation to put a metal plate in his elbow – and almost missed the birth of his daughter Olive.

Mr Holdgate said the nurse who treated him told him that if any other part of his head had taken the impact, it could have been fatal.

He said: “My daughter has just been born and I can’t lift her up or change her nappies.

“It was hard hitting to be told it could have been fatal. I’m just so glad to be alive.”

Mr Holdgate is a marketing manager at Brandwatch in Church street, Brighton.

He was cycling down Queen’s Park Road on his way to his work at 8.20am on Friday, August 17, when the accident happened.

He saw a taxi coming along on the opposite side of the road begin to turn across his path into St Luke’s Terrace.

He shouted at the driver not to turn as he was cycling quickly and unable to stop.

But the taxi kept going and he was forced to slam on his brakes, which sent him hurtling over the handlebars at speed.

He said: “I just missed the taxi and went flying over my handlebars and my arm reached out to cushion the blow.

“The huge blow broke my elbow and my chin also took much of the impact. The taxi didn’t stop, but three or four passersby pulled me to the side of the road and called an ambulance.”

He was taken to the nearby Royal Sussex County Hospital where his chin was stitched and he was told he would need an operation to repair the damage to his elbow.

The operation to put a metal plate in his arm was set for Saturday but was delayed so he could be with his wife Grace as she gave birth to Olive.

Mr Holdgate said he now believes Brighton is not safe for cyclists.

He said: “Brighton is supposed to be known as an eco-friendly city.

“It’s portrayed as that but in reality, it’s just not set up for bikes at all.

“This has been the worst timing ever, but luckily we’ve got a beautiful daughter and she’s got a dad that’s still alive.”

Police are now trying to trace the taxi and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “Police were called after a cyclist fell off his bike after he was forced to break to avoid a collision with a taxi turning into St Luke’s Terrace in Brighton on 17 August at 8.30am. The 41-year-old cyclist suffered a broken elbow and a cut to his chin and was taken to hospital. The taxi driver failed to stop.

“Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact police online or ring 101 quoting serial 290 of 17/08.”