Former Metropolitan Police detective and recent The Traitors contestant Amanda Collier has shared shocking details of a horrific bicycle crash that left her needing emergency surgery. The 57-year-old from Brighton described the 2022 incident, which happened while on holiday in France, as causing the 'most pain of [her] life'.
A Freak Accident on a French Holiday
Amanda was enjoying a camper van holiday in the Loire Valley countryside with her wife, Caroline, when the pair decided to go for a bike ride on their final day. In a split-second moment, the relaxing trip turned into a nightmare. 'Out of the blue, Caroline accidentally clipped my wheel,' Amanda recalled to The Sun on Sunday. 'The freak accident sent me headfirst into this flint wall.'
Despite wearing a helmet, Amanda realised she had to twist her body to avoid breaking her neck. Her shoulder took the full impact against the hard rock. 'I couldn't breathe, and I had badly winded myself,' she said, describing the whole event as 'just awful'.
Emergency Response and a Torturous Journey Home
Unable to move and with her collarbone visibly protruding, Amanda was helped by a passing French jogger who directed an ambulance to their remote location. Rushed to a local hospital, she was given morphine and X-rays revealed her collarbone was shattered, requiring an operation.
Choosing to have the surgery back in the UK, Amanda and her wife faced a gruelling 15-hour journey from France. Every bump in the road caused 'torture', with Amanda at one point begging Caroline to leave her at the roadside. 'I thought I couldn't go on,' she shared. 'But she was so strong and knew we couldn't stop and ploughed on.'
Recovery and Reflections
After returning home, Amanda, who retired from policing in 2020, underwent surgery to have a metal sheet inserted into her bones. The recovery period lasted two months and was an emotionally draining experience. 'I couldn't stop crying,' she admitted. 'I felt very helpless, which was frustrating, as I am so independent normally; it was just horrendous, as I felt so vulnerable.'
Thankfully, she has not suffered any major lasting damage, aside from the occasional twinge. The ordeal taught her a profound lesson: 'I'll never take my physical health for granted again.'
The revelation comes after Amanda's dramatic exit from The Traitors season four, where she was wrongfully banished after masquerading as a charity worker. She had secretly confided in her close friend Rachel that she was actually an ex-detective hunting the Traitors, only to later discover Rachel was a Traitor herself. 'I felt really stupid for trusting Rachel with my big secret,' Amanda said on the companion show Uncloaked.
The Traitors continues on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
