Cyclist left with thousands of spines in his body after crashing into cactus bush

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An amateur cyclist had thousands of spines removed from his body after crashing into a cactus bush during a race in Argentina.

Diego Moreno reportedly hit a pothole while riding at the back of a pack of three in the City Park area of Buenos Aires.

Video footage recorded at the scene shows him next to the bush with chunks of cacti sticking out of his body.

Bystanders are seen helping him remove some of the spines before he was taken to hospital.

He is not said to have suffered any serious injuries but reportedly claimed his glasses and helmet saved him from being blinded.

He reportedly told local press: “We were going with three more cyclists, I was last in line.

“I didn't see a small crater in the asphalt and I hit the pothole.

“Thank god I was wearing glasses and a helmet and I didn't injure my face or head.

“Because the way the spines got embedded in me, it could have blinded me.”