EXCLUSIVE

By Hayley Robinson

A mum has thanked those who rushed to the aid of her son after he was hit by a car.

Eight-year-old Toby Ireland suffered just grazes to his head, right shoulder and lower back after he was thrown in the air and landed behind the vehicle.

The youngster, who was dressed up as a clown, was trick or treating with a group of children including his older sister Abigail, 13, and brother Thomas, 11, when the accident happened outside the King's Head pub, in London Road, Sittingbourne, just after 7.30pm on Saturday, October 30.

He stepped out in front of the car as he tried to make his way back to his sister after he retrieved his hat from the road. Mum of four Debbie Murton contacted the Sittingbourne Messenger after we reported last week how pub-goers stopped traffic while another customer, who had first aid knowledge, kept Toby still until the ambulance arrived.

The 37-year-old, of Portland Avenue, Murston, recalled the moment she received the phone call telling her Toby had been hurt.

She said: "A lady phoned my mobile and said she'd got my number off my daughter and said 'your little boy's been run over and you need to get here as soon as possible. I drove to my mum and dad's in Homewood Avenue and my dad drove me down there. I got to the junction and I could see all these people and blue lights. I ran over and he was lying on the floor with his eyes closed.

"I went with him to Medway Maritime Hospital where they took some X rays and examined him. Luckily he was OK. He stayed the night and was released at 10.30am the next day."

The Murston Junior School pupil returned to the classroom on Monday.

Miss Murton said: "I really feel someone was watching over him that night.

"I know the driver was really worried about him and had tried calling the hospital to s