A WILLITON mother has made an emotional appeal to young people and drivers after her son of 12 was airlifted to hospital following an accident last Saturday (April 6).

Connor Grint, of Kebby’s Farm Close Road, was out with friends when he ran across Long Street from Brook Road, misjudged the timing and was hit by a car, which was travelling within the speed limit.

He bounced onto the bonnet and hit the windscreen before falling into the road.

Miraculously, he escaped with only a broken arm, a wound on his forehead and scrapes on his knee, although at the time it was not known how bad his injuries were.

Emergency services were called to the scene while Connor’s friends ran to fetch his mother, Leann Oldfield, while the driver’s grandson, who was a passenger in the car, comforted him and held his head.

The Devon Air Ambulance was scrambled and landed in a field behind the village’s scout hut, where Connor was carried on a stretcher. He was airlifted to Bristol Children’s Hospital, together with his mother.

“He was rushed through to the trauma unit and there were loads of people standing there waiting for him. It was scary,” Leann told the Free Press.

“They said they plan for the worst, but Connor was communicating with them and following instructions, so they said that was positive.

“They checked him over and he had scans and x-rays. They said he was very lucky.

“It was all a bit of a blur – it was so manic and stressful.

“It wasn’t until he went to sleep in the hospital that first night, just thinking about what could have happened, that I broke down and cried – I don’t want that ever to happen to anyone.”

Leann said the best thing that could come out of the accident was to make young people and drivers more aware.

“I really want young people to think, and for friends to look out for each other – Connor was lucky, but the next person might not be,” she said.

“And I want to encourage drivers to stick to the speed limit as this driver did. It’s there for a reason.”

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