A YOUNG cyclist who broke her neck in a horrific fall is lucky to be alive - thanks to her helmet.

Kirsten Murphy, from Dennistoun in Glasgow, suffered serious injuries after going over the handle-bars of her bike as she was cycling in Alexandra Park on Sunday.

Thankfully the 11-year-old was wearing a helmet - and doctors have said that's the only reason the youngster survived.

Now the plucky youngster, who is currently paralysed and awaiting surgery to repair her neck, has mounted a campaign from her hospital bed to urge every cyclist in Glasgow to protect their head.

The St Denis' Primary pupil told the Evening Times: "If one person reads my story and decides to get a helmet then something good will have come out of what's happened to me. A helmet saved my life, and it could save yours too."

Kirsten, who has a brother Christopher, 21, was on her regular early morning cycle with a neighbour when she tried to slow down while going down a hill.

But after pulling on her brakes she was thrown right over the handle-bars - and landed on her head. Timesfile Fewer than one in three UK adults and fewer than one in five children regularly wear cycle helmets. Just over one in 10 boys wear one. Half of cyclists admitted to A&E units are suffering head and face injuries. Most cyclist deaths are due to head injuries. Nearly all child cyclist injuries occur off-road. When choosing a helmet, make sure it is standard-approved with a recognised safety certification such as British (BS 6863 or BS EN 1078)with a British Standard Kitemark. A helmet should fit snugly and securely on the head with a minimum use of pads. Do not buy a helmet a child will "grow" into. Buy a brightly coloured helmet that can be easily seen by other road users. The polystyrene layer inside the helmet, which compresses to absorb the force of an impact, can only be compressed once - so helmets should be replaced after any knock or crash. It is not compulsory in the UK to wear a helmet. Since New Zealand made it compulsory head injuries have fallen by 30%

As passers-by rushed to her aid, Kirsten remembered the first aid she'd learned at school and put herself into the recovery position.

Minutes later she was taken by ambulance to Yorkhill, where doctors battled to save her life, before transferring her to the specialist neurosurgery unit at the city's Southern General hospital.

Despite knowing she was badly hurt, Kirsten didn't panic.

She said: "I was really shocked because I couldn't move or feel my arms or legs.

"But I just tried to stay calm."

Later this week she will have an operation to fuse together the broken and dislocated bones in her neck.

Doctors say Kirsten will hopefully walk again, but her recovery will be slow, and she will need at least 18 months of intense rehabilitation.

Mum Denise, 43, and dad Walter, 50, say they have been amazed at their daughter's bravery, and support her safety campaign.

Denise, a service attendant at the Princess Royal Maternity hospital, said: "Words can't explain how frantic we were after the accident.

"But we're so proud of Kirsten, she's been an inspiration to the whole family."