Charlie Stewart-Birks has suffered life-changing injuries following the incident in Birkenhead
Charlie Stewart-Birks(Image: Supplied)
A mum has issued an urgent plea after her son suffered serious injuries in a crash. Charlie Stewart-Birks, 13, was riding his bike on Borough Road in Birkenhead at around 6.15pm on Sunday, April 19 when he was hit by a car close to the junction of Charing Cross and Whetstone Lane, where YMCA Wirral is located.
His mum, Sonia Stewart, was at the family home in Birkenhead when she received a call from Charlie’s number but a woman answered instead.
Speaking to the ECHO, Sonia, 44, said: “They said to me, it’s Merseyside Police, and I said, what’s he done, what’s he done?
“She said, he’s been involved in a collision, you need to get the YMCA now. I got a couple of seconds down my road and I just saw the police tape, so I had to follow this diversion. I pulled up and there were crowds of people. I’ve never seen so many police cars and ambulances. It was horrific.”
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police told the ECHO last week that Charlie was fighting for his life. The driver stopped at the scene and assisted officers with enquiries, with detectives appealing for eyewitness and footage of the incident to come forward.
Today, the force confirmed there are no further updates on the case at this time.
Charlie’s condition has stabilised but Sonia says her son, who is a massive Everton FC fan, has been left with life-changing injuries. She said: “He came out of ICU yesterday, so he spent a good eight, nine days in the intensive care unit.
“I just can’t put into words how amazing the staff in Alder Hey Hospital are (and) the air ambulance, I think they saved his life. We’ve had no words or anything out of him yet.
“We’re getting hand signs, like a thumbs up. He’s still in his bed. The hand signs are positive things in the right direction, so you’ve just got to cling to them. (The doctors) described it as a catastrophic brain injury.”
Charlie, who loves going out on his bike, wasn’t wearing a helmet when he was hit. Sonia has urged any children who go out on their bikes to wear one, even if they feel pressured from their friends not to.
Sonia said: “Charlie was one of the lads and you never think it’s going to happen to them. I just hope it never happens to anyone else. He’s got cuts and bruises all over his body, but he took the full brute force impact to his head.”
Charlie Stewart-Birks was riding his bike on Borough Road in Birkenhead when he was hit(Image: Supplied)
The incident has also impacted Charlie’s dad Steven Birks, as well as his sisters Leah, 23, and Lottie, six, and brother Lewis, 19. Sonia and Steven are both self-employed, meaning they are both losing money as they spend time in hospital with Charlie.
Sonia said: “Last night was the first time (we left his bedside). Charlie’s got a younger sister, she’s been so strong, but in the blink of an eye she’s lost her mum and dad and her brother because none of us are there. I had to go home and try and get some normality in life for it.”
A GoFundMe crowdfunding appeal set up five days ago to relieve this financial pressure has already raised more than £3,000. Sonia is overwhelmed by the kindness shown to the family during this time. She said: “It’s unbelievable. And do you know what, it’s not just the financial support.
“The amount of people who have reached out via social media, via our personal phone, via extended family, it’s just phenomenal and I’ll be eternally grateful to everyone for that.”
In a statement issued on Monday, April 20, Detective Sergeant Andy Roper from Merseyside Police’s matrix serious collision investigation unit said: “This is a tragic incident which has left a 13-year-old boy in hospital with serious life-threatening injuries.
“It is our priority to get answers for his family and I appeal to the public to help us do that by contacting us if you have information which will assist the investigation.
“I believe there were several other motorists who were driving past at the time who could have vital information to help our ongoing enquiries.
“If you saw the collision, the lead up to it or have anything else that you feel we need to be aware of, please get in touch as soon as possible.
“Additionally, if you have dashcam fitted in your vehicle and were driving in that area at the time of the collision, please review it in case you captured anything that could assist.
“Front and rear cameras can often capture evidence that you may be totally unaware of. Any help we receive, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could help.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or has information or footage that could assist police with enquiries, is urged to contact the force on (0151) 777 5747, email sciu@merseyside.police.uk, or via @MerPolCC on social media, quoting reference 26000215341.
You can find out more about the fundraiser here.