A NURSE who cheated death when he was knocked off his bike and broke his neck is on a mission to save lives on the county's roads.

Jose Martinez was saved by his helmet after a horror crash last year and hopes to tell thousands of schoolchildren about the importance of wearing one.

And with cycling set to boom in the county as authorities look to increase the network of cycle paths, Mr Martinez said he wants to make sure people involved in horrific crashes survive – unlike so many he has seen come through the John Radcliffe Hospital emergency department.

In February he spoke to 2,500 youngsters at The Cherwell School about his experience, the first of many planned talks.

The 27-year-old said: "Every surgeon and consultant I have spoken to since have said to me 'you know that you should be dead'.

"I see my life as a gift every day.

"I show the pupils some of my pictures of the X-rays where you can see all the screws and plates in my neck.

"Then I show them the helmet I was wearing when I was hit and you can see the damage.

"It is cracked and it is still covered in blood. Those cracks would have been my skull.

"After the assembly their headteacher told me he had never seen the pupils so impressed but also so terrified."

Dad-of-two Mr Martinez was knocked off his bike at high speed between Kidlington and Yarnton in February 2016.

After landing on his head he was rushed to the JR where he was treated by his own colleagues in the emergency department.

The Yarnton resident then underwent about 12 hours of surgery on his neck and head.

He said: "All my mates were looking after me.

"It was quite tough and horrible for them to see me in that state.

"As I went to theatre I was being told I may not walk again.

"If it was not for the helmet I would be dead or like a vegetable.

"I always wear a helmet. In work I have seen too many cyclists die."

Last month a £120m vision to boost cycling rates in Oxfordshire with a 366-mile cycle network was unveiled.

Rates of cycling on a number of key routes have already increased in recent years – as have the number of crashes involving bikes.

Riders' group Cyclox backed Mr Martinez's campaign and said there will still not enough cyclists wearing helmets.

Chairman Simon Hunt said: "We very strongly encourage everybody who uses a bike to wear a helmet.

"For whatever reason it is not done as often as it might be.

"It is not going to stop collisions happening in the first place but I have spoken to enough casualty doctors to know the protection that is given by a helmet.

"It can make a big difference if the head hits the ground."

Following his Cherwell School talk, Mr Martinez is planning to visit as many schools in the county as possible.

Cherwell School headteacher Chris Price said: "Jose was an inspiration.

"He talked with real bravery and candour about what happened to him and about how wearing a cycle helmet saved his life.

"He has given up his time to speak to all our year groups across the school and I know many of our students have been moved by his message."

Since the crash Mr Martinez, whose wife Claire was pregnant with their younger son Niko at the time, has had to learn how to use his arms again and attends physio twice a week but can now walk again.

He has also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

He said: "Every day has been a challenge.

"I thought I would not get to meet Niko and that kept me going, along with the love of my wife.

"I have been having psychological input since August.

"You have to fight to find something positive so I had the idea that I could speak to children about it.

"If I can change one child's idea that wearing a helmet is not cool and make them wear one that might change a life."

No arrests or criminal charges were made after Mr Martinez's crash, and a civil case is currently ongoing.