Victim 'too bruised to be hugged'

Apr 9 2009

The father of one of two young boys seriously injured in a horrific attack said his son is too bruised to be hugged.

The nine-year-old and the 11-year-old are continuing to recover in hospital and will not be formally interviewed by detectives until they leave.

The youngsters were seriously injured in an incident in the former pit village of Edlington, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, on Saturday.

Two brothers, aged 10 and 11, appeared at Doncaster Youth Court on Tuesday accused of attempted murder and robbery.

The father of the older victim said his son was still so traumatised by his ordeal that he cries when he sees an unfamiliar face, the Daily Mirror reported.

He also said: "We've been giving him loads of hugs and love. But there are only so many hugs you can give him as the poor lad is bruised to death. If you tap him on the shoulder he groans in pain.

"He's still not eating or drinking very well. But he's healing and doing a lot better and we're over the moon. It could have been so much worse."

On Wednesday, a South Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed the younger boy had undergone a second operation on his injured arm on Tuesday. He said neither of the boys will be formally interviewed until they leave hospital.

The younger of the boys has given a brief account of what happened to investigating officers but the other boy, who is his uncle, has not spoken to police at all.

The older boy was originally airlifted to Sheffield Children's Hospital in a critical condition but he was transferred to Doncaster Royal Infirmary after showing improvement. He is now said to be "stable and improving".