Jonny HumphriesNorth West
HandoutThe friends of boy who is in intensive care after being struck by a tram have rallied round to support his family.
The 11-year-old, Travis, has undergone multiple surgeries after being struck at Crossacres tram stop in Wythenshawe, Manchester, on 7 October.
Helen Reid, a friend of his family, told the he was a “lovely little lad” who loved racing motocross bikes at the club she helps to run, Cheshire North West Schoolboy Scramble Club.
Ms Reid, 51, described Travis as a “lovely, lovely little lad”.
Ms Reid had been sharing updates from Travis’s family on a crowdfunding page set up to raise money to aid his parents during his recovery.
Describing Travis, she said: “He’s absolutely hilarious and he has everybody in stitches when he’s chatting to people.
“He just loves his sport. He absolutely loves racing.
“The whole family are great.”
GoogleMs Reid said the news of the accidents was a “really big shock” and “heart-breaking”.
In an update shared on that page on Sunday, Travis’s mother Claire thanked the motocross community for their support.
She wrote: “The outpouring of love Travis and ourselves have received yesterday and overnight and today is just unbelievable and overwhelming.”
Claire said the family would respond to messages of support on social media “slowly but surely”.
She added: “All the men that have offered Dad an ear to calm down be strong for Travis and just listen if he needs, old friends, new friends, mx [motocross] dads you truly have the biggest hearts.”
‘Long road to recovery’
Ms Reid said she set up the page to help the family be with Travis on the long road to recovery.
“Whatever the outcome of all of this, at the end of the day, there’s there’s a long road to recovery here for Travis,” she said.
“He’s going to need his mum and dad around.”
The fundraising page has since hit more than £7,000.
Ms Reid said: “There’s been a lot of outpouring for him, a lot of support, but that’s the motocross community for you.
“If anybody’s injured in any way, whether it’s at the track or away from the track, they all dig deep.”
Transport for Greater Manchester, which runs the tram network, said it was supportinh the police, the Office of Rail and Road and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch who are investigating the collision.
