Boy wakes from two-week coma after road accident

A SCHOOLBOY who suffered the worst brain injury the medics who treated him had ever seen has amazed and delighted his family by waking from a coma after two weeks.

Medics at Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children said Harry suffered a terrible injury. Picture: Cate Gillon

Harry Davies, 11, suffered a six-inch fracture in his skull in the horrific accident and is thought to have survived only because he was wearing a cycle helmet.

The P7 pupil, from Pencaitland, East Lothian, was put in a medically-induced coma following the smash on 3 June as he cycled home.

But the youngster is now sitting up, eating and drinking, and talking to friends and family.

Harry’s recovery was so strong he was even able to bypass the high-dependency unit at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh and go straight to a neurology ward.

Harry was on his way home with his best friend, 12-year-old Douglas Simpson, who was on foot on 3 June.

Harry landed head-first on the road and was fortunate not to be killed. He delighted dad Nick, 46, when he woke up on Father’s Day and got to see Douglas again yesterday

Mum Lisa, 46, said: “The neurologist said he had not seen this level of trauma in the brain of a child before.

“He’s been quite lucky and he’s a fighter. “He should have gone from intensive care to high dependency, but he’s on the neurology ward.”

Due to swelling in his brain he had to have a bolt installed in his head, which Lisa said Harry would jokingly refer to as his “Dalek bolt.”

Lisa, who works for a mobile phone company said: “He is really making progress. He’s talking to people and he recognises his family and friends.

“He’s sitting up and is able to eat and drink. He is looking really well.”

Lisa paid tribute to the rescue crews who helped her son, after a glancing blow sent Harry into the road. Two off-duty firefighters were among those who helped him at the scene. “There was a Medic One [paramedic] crew at the scene and I think the fact they were able to get him to hospital very quickly helped to save his life.”

She continued: “After about a week we were told that they expected Harry to recover.

Lisa and Harry’s dad Nick have both been staying at the hospital’s accommodation for parents.

She continued: “The Sick Kids Hospital and family support service have been amazing and I want to thank them.

“The intensive care unit kept Harry alive, mended him and gave him lots of love.”

She said she is unsure when he will be able to return home, and Harry is due to join brother George, 14 at Knox Academy in August.

Janet Biggar, Douglas’ mum, said the road where the boys were hit should be made safer:

“They were on their way here and the van came up behind them. “They didn’t hear it or see it.

Police Scotland said they were continuing to appeal for witnesses over the incident.