Footballer Gerrard visits boy he knocked down

LIVERPOOL and England footballer Steven Gerrard yesterday visited the hospital bedside of a 10-year-old boy he knocked down in his car.

Gerrard gave a signed England shirt and boots to a “speechless” Jamie Hellawell who is recovering from the collision near Southport, Merseyside.

The youngster — a Manchester United fan — had just left Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in Birkdale at around 3.15pm on Monday when he was hit by Gerrard’s car.

Witnesses said the youngster had run on to the road.

Gerrard comforted Jamie until paramedics arrived and took him to Ormskirk & District General Hospital, before he was transferred to Alder Hey Hospital.

Yesterday, Gerrard went to see Jamie in hospital.

Jamie was especially pleased to receive the signed boots, belonging to Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

Gerrard said he phoned Rooney after discovering Jamie was a United supporter and arranged for the boots to be collected overnight.

Gerrard also met other children on the wards and posed for photographs and signed autographs.

He said: “It was a realrelief to see Jamie sitting up and smiling. I wasn’t too sure how pleased he’d be to see me, given he’s a United supporter, so I thought an England shirt might be a bit safer than a Liverpool one.

“I hope Jamie’s up and about again very soon.”

Jamie’s mother Helen Hellawell, from Birkdale, said: “Steven was shocked and upset and was holding Jamie’s hand. He was lovely and waited with us until the ambulance and police arrived. Jamie is quite chirpy and is putting on a brave face.”

A hospital spokeswoman said Jamie was in a stable condition after fracturing his left tibia and fibula. He is being detained for observation.

A spokesman for Gerrard earlier said he was driving “very slowly” at the time of the accident.