THE mother of Olympic hero Sir Steve Redgrave has described the “terrible shock” of learning of his cycle crash in America – which left him concussed and needing surgery.

Marlow Bottom's sporting icon Sir Steve, who was tackling a challenge dubbed The World’s Toughest Bike Race, suffered broken ribs, a broken cheek bone and wrist after falling face first.

It happened along a stretch of the steep Appalachian Mountains.

The record gold medal winning rower was just 300 miles short of completing the 3,000 mile Race Across America with his team mates.

His mum Sheila Redgrave, 78, also a Marlow Bottom resident, said: “It was a terrible shock, as they thought it may have been to do with his Diabetes on such a long journey like that.

“But apparently it was nothing to do with that, it was just a blow out. It was a very unfortunate accident.”

“He was so upset at not being to to complete it but thank God we have him in one piece. He may have a few broken bones but I don't think he would have been here to tell the tale if he hadn't been wearing the helmet.”

“I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to see him say 'I will go out and do it again', but I hope he doesn't.”

The legendary Olympian, 48, is due to be flown home on Sunday and may have an operation to repair his cheek bones on Monday or Tuesday.

His mum Sheila Redgrave, 78, discovered the news just as her husband Geoff was taken ill to Wycombe Hospital with Pneumonia.

However, both are recovering slowly, she added.

Sir Steve recalls on the team's 'blog' that he had “very blurred vision” after falling, saw his finger had been skewed “in a funny direction” and had blood pouring from his face.

He said: “Of all the things that possibly could have stopped me – tiredness, fatigue, diabetes, a simple blow out on the front wheel of a bike going around a corner can cause such pain.”