The heartbroken mother of a “bubbly” teenager seriously injured when a car ploughed into a beauty salon says he will never be the same again.

Liam Owen, 14, of Coronation Crescent, Garlinge, was a passenger in the car when it crashed into Girls World in High Street, Minster, at 1.45am on Saturday.

He was rushed to King’s College Hospital in London with life-threatening injuries.

The Hartsdown Academy pupil, who is not expected to be able to go back to school until next year, suffered a collapsed lung, shattered pelvis, severe facial injuries and a broken thigh.

He bit right through his tongue and had to have a drain fitted while still awake to drain the blood from his lungs.

His mother Louise Keenleyside, who also has a 13-year-old daughter and twin boys aged nine, has been told by doctors it is likely he will walk with a limp for the rest of his life due to his damaged pelvis.

The driver, a man in his 20s, was also seriously hurt and taken to King’s, and another teenage passenger escaped with just minor injuries.

Speaking from his bedside, Mrs Keenleyside, 30, said Liam, who turns 15 next week, was due in theatre today for doctors to operate on his pelvis and leg, and carry out reconstructive surgery on his face using metal plates.

She said: “They are trying to keep him stable and they are doing all three procedures in one go.

“When he comes out of surgery he’ll be on a ventilator. He’s got a punctured lung and can’t breathe properly. He’s on morphine.

“He’s going to walk with a limp so this is going to affect him for the rest of his life.”

Mrs Keenleyside said she was shocked when she received the phone call saying her son had been in a crash.

“He was at a friend’s house and I presumed he was in bed at that time of the morning,” she said.

“My sister is broken watching him go through it all.” - Gardner Liam Owen's auntie Nalin

“I’m quite strict with my children.”

Liam, who she said “lights up a room”, was transferred from the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford to King’s where he remains in the children’s critical care unit.

“He was blue-lighted from Ashford to London and four nurses were in the back with him trying to keep him stabilised,” she said.

“They said the only thing he had on his side was youth. If he was older it would have been game over.”

Mrs Keenleyside admitted it was still early days for her son.

A Facebook appeal called Liam Owen’s Recovery has now been set up by Liam’s auntie Nalin Gardner, 22, to help Mrs Keenleyside with food costs while she is at his bedside in London.

Mrs Gardner said it would be one less thing for her to worry about.

“She’s being strong – as strong as she can be,” said Mrs Gardner.

“She’s trying not to cry in front of Liam. I’ve been up to the hospital twice and went with her at 3am after she was told he’d been in a crash.

“If people can give anything, even just 50p, we would be so grateful.

“My sister won’t leave him, she’s staying by his side, and she needs to eat to keep her strength up, but it’s expensive paying for food each day.”

Mrs Gardner, also of Coronation Crescent, added: “My sister is broken watching him go through it all.”

She described her nephew as “popular and loved by everyone”.

“He’s a bubbly person who makes everyone laugh, but he’s also got a heart of gold who would do anything for anyone.”

Anyone with information about the crash contact the serious collision investigation unit on 01622 798538 quoting RG/DM/170/16 or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk

To donate to the Liam Owen’s Recovery appeal click here for details.