SMILING AGAIN
Brave six-year-old and his grandparents win Sentinel’s Santa Sleepover contest after ‘terrible year’
Little Kyle Rhodes wasn’t looking forward to Christmas after a heartbreaking year. In August, the brave six-yearold suffered a broken leg and internal injuries during a car crash which killed his mum and five-year-old brother. The mental scars have yet to heal. But now he has received a bit of good news... he’s won a weekend for himself and his caring grandparents at a Santa Sleepover at Alton Towers. It’s a little bit of Christmas magic that’s got him...
A Six-year-old boy seriously injured in a car crash in which his mum and little brother died is to be treated to a magical Christmas treat at Alton Towers this weekend.
Brave Kyle Rhodes suffered a broken leg, internal injuries, a large cut to his neck and damage to his lungs and spleen following the accident in Draycott in August.
His mum, Rebecca Smith, aged 24, and Kyle’s five-year-old brother Corey Rhodes, right, were rushed to the Royal Stoke University Hospital after the crash, but Corey was pronounced dead a short time later.
Former Cheadle High School student Rebecca died the following day.
Kyle, who now lives with his grandparents Pat and Jeff Rhodes – who are the parents of Kyle’s dad James – was taken by air ambulance to Sheffield’s Children’s Hospital where he underwent surgery and had his leg pinned.
The youngster was among scores of children and families nominated in our competition to win a Christmas party with a Santa Sleepover at Alton Towers this weekend.
Pat, aged 67, of Well Street, Cheadle, said: “We have had a very, very difficult year – especially Kyle. He saw his little brother die.
“He was extremely close to Corey and misses him so much – he keeps clinging to his grandad, but doesn’t talk about the accident. He has blanked it out.”
Following the accident, Jeff, aged 63, who works at JCB, took bereavement leave to help look after Kyle with his wife, who is retired.
Pat said: “We are getting used to doing the school run and dealing with paying for school dinners etc, but it’s all changed since our two sons were at school.
“Jeff is due to go back to work soon. Because Kyle is so close to his grandad it’s going to be very difficult, but we’ll get through it.”
Kyle, a former pupil of Clarice Cliff School in Fenton, now attends St Giles’ Catholic Primary School in Cheadle, where he has been receiving counselling.
Pat said: “He has started to make friends at school. I’ve seen him playing with different children and he does his homework every night, but he’s very, very quiet.
“We are trying to make Christmas extra-special for him this year and have put a tree and decorations up, but he has ignored them. I overheard a woman ask him if he was looking forward to Christmas the other day. He replied ‘no’.
“To be nominated to win the Santa Sleepover was very, very nice and so kind.”
The prize includes bed and breakfast in the Splash Landings Hotel, a festive evening meal, tickets to the Alton Towers Alice in Wonderland pantomime, a day ticket to the theme park and a one-day entry to the waterpark, a game of nine-hole extraordinary golf, evening entertainment including meet and greets and shows, and a farewell from Santa. Margaret Chandler, who nominated Kyle and his grandparents, said: “I saw the Alton Towers competition in The Sentinel and Kyle came to mind straightaway. “After everything he has gone through, I see that little lad go into school every morning with a big smile on his face.
“He’s had a bad year and it’s just heartbreaking, but I just thought a little bit of magic will help make things easier for him and give him something to look forward to.”
Sentinel Editor Martin Tideswell said: “We were absolutely overwhelmed with nominations for this brilliant competition prize donated by our friends at Alton Towers.
“In truth, every nominee was worthy and it was wonderful to see so many people make the time to put others forward for a special treat. Kyle has clearly had a terrible year. We hope this weekend he and his grandparents can make some lovely memories and know that our readers will join us in wishing him a magical time.”
Divisional director at Alton Towers Resort, Ian Crabbe, said: “Our hearts go out to Kyle and his family who really do deserve a special treat this Christmas.”