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Expresso host on crutches after Argus

Cape Town - Expresso presenter Liezel van der Westhuizen is in hospital and learning how to walk on crutches after a serious fall from her bicycle over the weekend.

According to YOU magazine, Van der Westhuizen took part in the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay cycle tour on Sunday – and managed to stay on two wheels for the duration of the 109 km challenge before tragedy struck.

"I fell about 500m away from my house while I was cycling home after the Argus," she says.

"I am busy training for an Ironman event so I cycled the 15km from my house to the start of the Argus, then finished the race in a very good time. And then I cycled home, well – I almost made it home!"

Liezel says she’s "not one hundred percent sure what happened, but what she does know is that she fell hard."

Beautiful route

"Nothing’s broken, and I’m hoping for a quick recovery. It’s just serious bruising, scrapes, bumps and cuts. I am battling to walk, so I am being taught how to use crutches right now. Once I’ve mastered these I will be sent home, which I’m hoping is before the end of the week," she says.

The former Idols host won’t be making an appearance on her regular early morning slot on SABC3 this week. And despite her injuries, Liezel’s upbeat about her performance in the Argus itself.

"It went very well. I posted a good time of 4 hours 20 minutes, so I am quite happy about that. The race itself was amazing, such a beautiful route," she says.

Ironman

"And apart from the injuries I got from the fall, I feel great. I am quite fit in general because of the challenges of the Ironman series, so I wasn’t stiff at all after the race and was feeling excellent, until I fell, of course!"

Liezel says she’s hoping to get back into the swing of daily life again soon.

"I hope the recovery is quick and that I can get back to work. There is also an Ironman event happening in three weeks time which I am hoping to take part in," she says.

"But I will obviously need to check with the doctors and see what they have to say first, I don’t want to make any of the injuries worse by pushing myself too hard too soon."
 
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