Gordon Ramsay shows off a scary bruise on his torso after getting in a 'really bad' bike accident: 'I'm lucky to be alive'

• Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay says he's "lucky to be alive" after a cycling accident in Connecticut.
• Wearing a helmet saved his life, Ramsay said on Instagram.

Gordon Ramsay said he's "lucky to be alive" after being involved in a "really bad" accident while cycling in Connecticut earlier this week.

In a video uploaded to Instagram on Saturday, the British celebrity chef, 57, credited his helmet for saving his life as he recounted the recent accident and showed off his injuries for which he required hospital treatment.

"This week, unfortunately, I had a really bad accident, and it really shook me, and honestly, I'm lucky to be here," Ramsay said.

The "Kitchen Nightmares" presenter continued: "Those incredible trauma surgeons, doctors, nurses in the hospitals looked after me this week. They were amazing, but honestly, you've got to wear helmets."

In his caption, he clarified that he did not "break any bones or suffer any major injuries" but said he was "a bit bruised up looking like a purple potato."

The keen cyclist wrote that he was thankful for those at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital's trauma surgeons and nurses who looked after him, but was "most thankful for my helmet that saved my life."

"I'm in pain. It's been a brutal week and I'm sort of getting through it," Ramsay added in the video.

He lifted his chef's uniform to reveal a dark bruise that covered a significant portion of his torso.

He stressed to his 17.4 million followers the importance of wearing a helmet while cycling.

"I don't care how short the journey is. I don't care that these helmets cost money. They're crucial."

Ramsay also shared before and after photographs, the first of which showed him wearing shorts, a bright yellow shirt, and a helmet while he stood beside his bike; the after showed the same shirt and helmet with substantial damage from the accident.

"I'm lucky to be standing here," he said.

The father of six signed off by wishing people 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 didn't, honestly, I wouldn't be here now."