Published: Thursday, 28th August, 2008 15:30
CRASH BOY CHEATS DEATH
By Eitan Grant
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A young boy who nearly died in a horror bike crash is making a remarkable recovery.
Callum Maxwell was left fighting for his life after smashing into a lamppost on his pals mini motorbike.
He spent six hours in surgery and had to get his spleen removed after doctors battled to save him.
The 13-year-old made a fateful decision not wear a safety helmet before getting on the dirt bike last Wednesday.
Callum cracked his head open and sustained serious internal injuries after losing control of the bike.
The second year Linwood High School is expected to stay in hospital for the next few weeks before being allowed home.
Brave Callum says he is just grateful to be alive.
He added: “A car pulled out and I swerved to miss it, mounted the kerb and then I woke up in a hospital bed.
“I will always wear a helmet when I am on a bike from now on.”
Yesterday Callum’s mum Lorraine took her son up bacon, sausage and eggs for breakfast after a special request from the young RAH patient.
The mum-of-two said: This is the first meal he has been allowed to eat from outside the hospital and he requested a big fry-up.
“The surgeon told me that his swollen spleen should be removed before it burst but his head seem to knitting together by itself.
“I am just so grateful he is alive.
“I cant thank the doctors and nurses who are looking after him enough. they are doing a great job."
Lorraine has been staying by her son’s bedside day and night only going home to pick up clothes.
She added: “About twenty minutes after he left the house that day two police officers came to my door.
“They said, ‘it’s about Callum’ and I just knew something terrible had happened.
“In the hospital one of the police officers said to him, ‘when I saw you lying there on the road I though you were not going to survive.’
“That really shook Callum into realising how stupid he was not wearing a helmet and how close to dying he came.
“It was touch-and-go when he was first admitted but he is a real fighter and the doctors say he is making a remarkable recovery.
“I was going to get him a mini motorbike for Christmas but not any more.”
Medics stabilised the young crash victim at the scene before rushing him to accident and emergency.
He spent three days in intensive care but has now been moved to a ward.
Callum has been sitting up in bed watching DVDs brought up by school friends and says his favourite movie is Jackass where the presenters engage in seemingly dangerous stunts.
Constable Gary McKenzie of Greenock road policing department is continuing enquiries into the crash on Fullwood Avenue, Linwood.
He is keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the dirt bike travelling on prior to the crash.
Witnesses are asked to contact him at the road policing complex on 01475 492500.
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Tragic death of man, 24