Gordon Ramsay says he is “lucky to be here” after bicycle accident

Gordon Ramsay says he is “lucky to be here” after crashing his bike in Connecticut earlier this week.

“I had a really bad accident and it really shook me up. I’m honestly lucky to be here,” the 57-year-old “MasterChef” star said in a graphic video he shared on Instagram on June 15.

Ramsay then thanked the “incredible” doctors and nurses who treated his injuries in hospital and urged his followers to wear a helmet every time they cycle.

“I don’t care how short the ride is. I don’t care that these helmets cost money, but they are essential,” he told his fans. “Even the kids have to wear a helmet on short rides.”

“I’m glad I can stand here. I’m in pain. It’s been a brutal week, but I’m getting through it somehow,” Ramsay said, lifting his chef’s jacket to reveal his horribly bruised torso.

“But I can’t tell you how important it is to wear a helmet,” he added.

Ramsay also included before and after photos of the accident in his message.

In the first photo, the celebrity chef is standing next to his racing bike in cycling gear, sunglasses and a helmet. A second photo, taken after the accident, shows Ramsay’s helmet in tatters. His cycling shirt is torn and has a large hole in the chest.

In his caption, Ramsay, a longtime cycling fan who has competed in several triathlons, again urged fans to wear a helmet.

“Since tomorrow is #FathersDay, I have a very important message for all the dads out there… WEAR A HELMET! This week I had a really bad accident while riding my bike in Connecticut. I’m OK and didn’t break anything or sustain any major injuries, but I’m a little bruised and look like a purple potato,” he wrote.

“I am grateful to all the doctors, nurses and staff at Lawerence + Memorial Hospital in New London who took care of me and checked me out, but I am most grateful for my helmet that saved my life. Happy Father’s Day and take care, Gx,” he added.

In 2014, Ramsay spoke to The Telegraph about his love of cycling and participating in triathlons.

One of the benefits of cycling, says the chef, is being able to sample the food of the small towns he sees on his rides.

“It’s like I’m on The Great British Bake Off. I’m discovering these incredible little tea rooms in villages with these incredible carrot cakes and Victoria sponges,” he said, adding that he had done something “really naughty” while horse riding a few months earlier.

“I had been cycling for five hours and I ate the whole damn cake,” he recalled. “It was a nine-inch Victoria sponge cake. I felt so bad.”

This article was originally published on TODAY.com.