Brave young girl saves little brother’s life after he was struck in hit and run
Joseph Loftus, 10, was left dying in a pool of his own blood after being mowed down while riding his bike
A MUM has told how her daughter saved her young son’s life after he was almost killed in a hit and run.
Joseph Loftus, 10, was enjoying his first bike ride of the summer holidays with his older sister, Rebekah, 14, when he was hit by a car which left him for dead in the middle of the road.
It was only Rebekah’s quick thinking – dragging her brother to the safety of the pavement away from traffic – which saved his life.
Rebekah called for help and cradled Joseph’s head, keeping him talking to make sure he didn’t lose consciousness before an air ambulance arrived.
Joseph was rushed to hospital with head and leg injuries and a broken collarbone – but his relieved family know he is lucky to be alive.
Mum Ruth, 39, from Burnley, Lancs, said: “Rebekah saved his life. It’s a busy road and Joseph was thrown right into the middle after the car hit him.
“If he had been left in the road he would most likely have been hit by another car.
“It was a huge shock for them both. It’s dreadful to think that someone could hit a child and drive away and leave him.
“But it’s also very heart-warming to know that his big sister has saved his life.”
Joseph, the youngest of five children, is close to his older sister and the pair had decided to ride their bikes around the block near their home at the start of their summer holidays.
Ruth, a community carer, explained: “My children are very careful on the roads and I knew they would be sensible. They were only a hundred yards from the house.
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“I was busy washing the dishes when a lady knocked at the door, screaming that Joseph had been in a hit and run accident.”
Panic-stricken Ruth, who is pregnant, and her husband Anthony, 46, raced to the scene where they found Joseph lying in a pool of his own blood on the pavement, barely conscious and with his eyes glazed.
Ruth recalled: “Rebekah was wonderful. She was very calm, stroking his hair and keeping him talking to make sure he stayed conscious.
“She later told me she’d screamed at the driver who drove away after hitting her brother and throwing him into the path of the traffic.
“She was suffering from shock.
“For her to act so quickly and calmly and drag him to safety was incredible.”
At first doctors feared Joseph had suffered spinal injuries and he was taken to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
But he was eventually treated for head and leg injuries and a broken collar bone and was allowed home two days later.
Ruth said: “It has been a big shock for us all. I can’t believe that anyone could hit a child and drive away.
“It has upset Joseph that the driver didn’t stop to help – but he knows he is very lucky to have a big sister who saved him.”
Police made an appeal for witnesses after the accident but the driver has not yet been traced.
PC Neil Goodison said: “This collision has left the young boy with serious injuries.
“I would urge the driver of the car involved to come forward and make contact with us.
“I would also urge anyone who may have witnessed the collision to please get in touch with us by calling 101 as soon as possible.”