Shropshire boy, 9, injured in ski accident may return home
A nine-year-old boy who suffered serious injuries after being knocked down by a skier on a family holiday in the Pyrenees could return to the UK next week, his father said today.
Brook Hill, who attends The White House School in Whitchurch, was enjoying a beginners' skiing lesson at the Les Monts d'Olmes ski resort in the Pyrenees, south France, when he was knocked unconscious by a 27-year-old man who lost control and ploughed into him at high speed.
The sports-mad youngster has been in a hospital in Toulouse since the collision on February 17.
Brook was on holiday with his mum Rachael, dad Louis and brother Barney, 12.
Yesterday he was due to undergo an operation to re-insert part of his skull which was taken out to alleviate pressure caused by bruising.
Mr Hill, of Wrenbury, said the operation should allow his son to transfer to Alder Hey Children's Hospital next week and added: "Brook is making great progress, the doctors are surprised at what a great recovery he has made so far but there is still a long way to go.
"He is now talking and has been doing some walking. He is conscious and aware but his brain has forgotten a lot of things so he is having to re-learn a lot of the basics.
"He now has the awareness of a two-year-old child but as his consciousness increases and he becomes more familiar with his surroundings he will continue to improve.
"We have still got a long way to go but he has recovered very quickly to get to this level so we are looking forward to having the fully functional Brooky back."
Yesterday's operation was being held to re-insert a section of Brook's skull, removed to relieve pressure on his brain following the accident.
Mr Hill said: "It's actually the same section from the skull that was taken out and has been kept in a freezer all this time."
The boy has been inundated with messages from well-wishers including his hero, the Welsh international rugby full-back Leigh Halfpenny.
And more than 30,000 posts have been left on a Caring Bridge website set up to keep family and friends updated on his progress.
Mr Hill, a coach at Whitchurch Rugby Club, said: "The support we have had has just been fantastic. It's great to be part of such a caring community and I thank everyone for their kind messages."
