Hospital joy for accident boy Sonny
A12-YEAR-OLD aspiring boxer knocked down by a car in Royton will have to spend Christmas Day in hospital - but a visit from Manchester United players and signed gloves from world champion boxer Ricky Hatton helped put a smile on his face.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba were just a few of the players that visited Sonny Heneghan at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital on Monday afternoon.
Sonny, a City fan, said he was really happy they visited him - and he even managed to get the players to sign his blue shirt.
The visit comes just days after Sonny was knocked down on a zebra crossing on Rochdale Road, while he was on his way to school.
He suffered a fractured hip and cuts and bruises to his face and body.
His injuries mean he can’t move for three weeks and will have to spend Christmas in hospital.
Doctors have also told him it will be at least six months until he is back in the gym boxing.
But the youngster said he is more upset he will miss out on his favourite sport.
However his fighting spirit means he won’t be down for long and has set his sights on campaigning for a pelican crossing.
Sonny wrote to the community on Facebook from his hospital bed.
He said: “I would like to thank everyone involved who helped me on Thursday morning when I was knocked down on the zebra crossing, especially the lady on the bedding stall on Royton market, Elaine Hallett, who kept me warm while the ambulance came.
“Although I’m going to be spending the whole of Christmas, New Year and possibly my 13th birthday in hospital, I’m more upset that I can’t compete in my boxing fight that I have trained so hard for.
“But with my determination and help from Darren Stubbs’ boxing club I will be back in the gym as soon as I’m physically capable.
“I hope you all will help me to campaign to get the crossing to help prevent this happening again. Thanks again and I hope you all have a nice Christmas.”
His thoughtful and positive post was shared hundreds of times and was liked by more than 1,000 people.
Sonny’s mum Elizabeth Oldfield, said: “The visit from the players and the gloves really made a big difference. We will campaign to get the zebra crossing changed to a pelican crossing to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
A spokesman for GMP said anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact 101 quoting reference number 0318.