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Pupil survives horror smash

Kirsty Elleray
29/ 5/2003

A SCHOOLBOY is lucky to be alive after a near fatal road smash at a notorious accident black spot.

Graham Furlong, 15, was left fighting for his life after a collision with a car - driven by a 57-year-old man from Cheadle - as he came out of of Parrs Wood High and crossed the killer road Kingsway.

Graham was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital and later transferred to intensive care at Pendlebury where he was treated for a fractured skull and torn ligaments in his leg.

His mum Lynne was initially warned by doctors that he could be brain damaged, yet he made a miraculous recovery.

Lynne, 49, of Fosbrook Avenue in Didsbury said: "When doctors were telling me how serious it was everything just drained from me. It seemed like an eternity that I was waiting for scan results. It is so scary to see someone you care about in that way. The accident gave us a terrible scare and we could have easily lost him."

Graham is now having to spend his half term at home, not able to play football or go out with his friends. He said: "I was coming out of school, and I was excited that I was going to be playing football, I remember stepping off the pavement and I don't remember much after that. I woke up on the road and I knew I had been hit. I wanted to get up and walk off but my headteacher Mr Hall stopped me."

Lynne is now calling for a subway to make sure lives are not lost. "Before Graham leaves for school in the morning I have always said have a good day and watch the road."