THE father of a young boy who was airlifted to hospital after he was hit by a car has thanked the people who helped care for him.

Brandon Johnston was riding his scooter to Tonge Cricket Club when he was hit by a car, in Tonge Moor Road, near the junction of Crompton Way, just before 2pm, on Saturday September 15.

The 10-year-old broke both his legs in the accident.

His father Rob Johnston, who was walking behind Brandon with his twin brother Callum and their older sister Chelsea, aged 11, when the accident happened, said he had feared the worst and thought Brandon may be paralysed.

He said: “Some cars had stopped because they were waiting to turn right and he thought they had all stopped so he was okay to cross, but he hadn’t seen the cars come the other way.

“I heard a bang and him cry out so I ran across the road and saw him on the ground in pain.”

Mr Johnston, aged 47, from Tonge Moor, has praised the quick actions of nurse Julia Marsden, who was using the nearby Shell petrol station, and who rushed over to look after Brandon.

Ms Marsden, who was on her way to work at Crompton Health Centre, stayed with Brandon until the air ambulance arrived 50 minutes later.Paramedics stabilised him, but due to his injuries decided he needed to be taken by air ambulance to Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Tonge Cricket Club’s second team, who were playing Little Lever at the time, abandoned their game and cleared the cricket pitch to make way for the helicopter. Brandon, a pupil at Gaskell Community Primary School, was rushed to hospital where he underwent an operation to pin one of his legs.

Mr Johnston said that he was likely to stay in hospital for another week but was doing very well.

He said: “I am really proud of him as he was really brave and I would just like to thank the paramedics and the police and everybody who helped him.”

Gillian Schofield, Tonge Cricket Club secretary, said the incident had been “very traumatic”.

She said: “Everyone was fantastic and the nurse was brilliant, if she hadn’t been there then I dread to think what he would have been like.

“We are all so glad he is all right but I think it might be a long haul for him yet.”

Cricketers from the club have visited Brandon, whose dad’s partner Barbara Woodend works at the club, and given him some signed Tonge Cricket Club merchandise.

They also clubbed together to buy him a new Adidas tracksuit as his had to be cut off after the accident.