ABDUL Raheem Hussain was in a coma for weeks after suffering swelling to the brain and serious leg injuries after he was struck by a speeding car in St Helens Road, Daubhill.

The Essa Academy pupil — known as Raheem — is now back at home recovering, after spending more than two months at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital since the collision on Sunday, July 21.

Last month, Amina Sidda, the woman who held Raheem’s hand at the crash scene until paramedics arrived went to visit him in hospital.

Mrs Sidda, aged 40, did not know Raheem but rushed out of her cousin’s house in her nightdress after hearing the crash.

Mrs Sidda, a mother of four children, said: “I was a bit emotional when I saw Raheem for the first time since the crash but he said thank you and hid his face under his cover so he did the job for me. I am glad he is better and is going to get better. He was so frail when I saw him in St Helens Road. I am glad he is a lively boy again.

“I was praying at my cousin’s flat in my nightie. I could see people coming out of cars and people in the road then I saw someone on the ground. I went outside and everyone was around the boy and people were taking pictures. I moved people out of the way and sat down and crossed my legs and held his hand. I did it on impulse. He couldn’t squeeze my hand but he was holding it so tightly. When I got home I was in shock.”

She said the boy’s mother came to the scene shortly after the crash but due to her son’s injuries she was too distressed to sit with him. Other people were vomiting after seeing the boy’s injuries.

Raheem said he could not remember Mrs Sidda or anything about the crash but his mother said when he came out of his coma he asked who the woman was who helped him. He also asked for his older brother, Ameen, aged 14, who he was with prior to the crash, and asked where his glasses were when he came out of a coma after about three weeks. He also recalls a man being injured.

The boy’s family is “eternally grateful” to Mrs Sidda and continue to pray for her. After the crash she feared for Raheem’s wellbeing but received weekly updates on his progress from his family, who have kept in contact with her.

Mrs Sidda, a practice manager at Dr Sidda and partners at Waters Meeting Road Health Centre, said she wants to buy Raheem new trainers when his right leg is healed as she remembers seeing his trainer on the road when he was taken to hospital.

Raheem said: “I am missing playing football. I support Manchester United and my favourite player is Van Persie but I don’t watch the games.

“My leg is not feeling painful. It’s is feeling good, better than it was.”

The Year Eight pupil attended school each day at the hospital and is receiving regular physiotherapy. He has a metal frame around his lower right leg.

Friends of Raheem said he is always smiling in school and that he and his smile had been missed.