Relief as Ben is allowed home

From the archive, first published Tuesday 15th Nov 2005.

NINE-YEAR-OLD Ben Harris has been released from hospital after he was hit by a car on a pedestrian crossing.

He suffered head injuries in the accident on Cricklade Road last week but is now back home with his family after being discharged from Great Western Hospital.

He was on the crossing with his mother Anmarie, his 11-year-old brother Carl and his baby sister Mia, one.

Mia had a lucky escape as the pushchair she was in was also hit by the Ford Fiesta.

Her father David, 40, from Pinehurst, told the Advertiser at the time that she was lucky to be alive.

But now he is just happy that his family is back together again.

He said: "I'm more relieved than pleased. I've had the first decent night's sleep since Wednesday. I hadn't been able to eat or sleep and I just couldn't settle.

"Ben still feels ill and has a headache. He can't go back to school for another week as we have to keep an eye on him, and he can't ride a bike or do tae kwon do for a month in case he bangs his head."

With no recollection of the accident, Ben, a pupil at Pinehurst Junior School, woke up in hospital confused and alarmed.

"It was scary because I didn't know why I was there," said. "I had a brain scan as well which was a bit weird."

Mr Harris, 31, said: "Ben was tearful because he couldn't understand why he was there. Other than that he coped really well."

Ben, who is a yellow belt in tae kwon do, is more concerned about missing out on his favourite sport than he is his about injuries.

He was on his way to the class at Gorse Hill Community Centre with his mum, sister and 11-year-old brother Carl when the accident happened late on Wednesday afternoon.

Doctors have said he can't do any sport for a month.

"I've been going to Steve Dearlove's class in Gorse Hill for two years. I love it, I wish I could go," he said.

Mr Harris is full of praise for people who came to his wife's help after the incident.

He said: "I'd like to thank everyone who helped on the day of the accident.

"Swindon gets slagged off but there were people bending over backwards to help my wife.

"One person took my other son to hospital and another took the pushchair into their house while we went to the hospital.

"And somebody else picked up all the change that fell out of my wife's purse.

"There are a lot of honest people out there."

Police are investigation the circumstances of the accident and will be interviewing the driver of the Fiesta, who is a local man, after speaking to witnesses.

Dave Andrew

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