Kidman's husband in motorbike accident after paparazzi chase

Country music star Keith Urban crashed his motorcycle while being followed by a photographer on the way to an Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meeting in Sydney, it emerged today.

Urban, who is married to Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman and who has fought a public battle with substance abuse, was not injured in the accident on Monday, and signed photographs for fans who came to help.
Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban at the Oscars: The country music star crashed his bike to avoid a car after he was pursued by a paparazzi after leaving an AA meeting

But Urban sought to play down the incident, and in a statement said: "Today's incident was the result of one person's desire to do his job and my desire to maintain my privacy.

"Some have already attempted to inflate the facts, but the reality is this: While out riding to an AA meeting, a time when my privacy is especially important to me, I felt myself being pursued.

"I sped up, and, in an effort to elude an oncoming car which was making an illegal u-turn, saw no choice but to drop my bike," said Urban.

"In actual fact, my pursuer came to my assistance, without taking photos, and helped me from the road. I returned home, got my car and continued on my way," he concluded.
The recovering drug addict was not injured in the accident but was left shaken. He was helped by the photographer who pursued him

According to The Australian newspaper, eyewitnesses said the accident happened near Nicole Kidman's Darling Point home while a photographer was pursuing Urban, 39, on another bike.

The gutter where the incident occurred was chipped as a result, said the paper.

The Melbourne Herald-Sun also reported that those who observed the crash said the musician was uninjured but shaking after the incident.