Gordon Ramsay stated that he is “lucky to be alive” after a “very nasty accident” he had with his bicycle in the USA. The 57-year-old TV chef took the opportunity to send a message to his 7.6 million followers on X and 17 million on Instagram to “always wear a helmet.”

He thanked the “incredible paramedics, doctors, and nurses” at the private hospital but said he is “most grateful for my helmet which saved my life.”

In a video, he revealed a huge bruise covering a large part of his torso and said, “I am lucky to be standing here. I am in pain, it has been a violent week, but somehow I am getting through it.”

On Instagram, he humorously said that his torso “looks like a purple potato,” but stated that he “did not break any bones or suffer any serious injury.”

“You have to wear a helmet,” he added. “I don’t care how short the trip is. I don’t care that these helmets cost money, they are vital.”

He closed by wishing all the fathers of the world a happy Father’s Day. “I want to wish you all a happy Father’s Day, but please, please, please wear a helmet. If I hadn’t been wearing one, honestly, I wouldn’t be here now.”

Ramsay became a father for the sixth time in November when his wife Tana gave birth to their son Jesse James Ramsay. The couple, who have been married for nearly 30 years, are also parents to Megan, Matilda, twins Jack and Holly, and Oscar.

Ramsay is an avid cyclist and has completed several endurance races, including triathlons and Iron Man. During the pandemic, he faced criticism for traveling to his second home in Cornwall, where he often filmed himself cycling long distances.