A MOTHER has described how her son has survived catastrophic injuries suffered in a scrambler bike smash – despite doctors warning her on four different occasions that he would not pull through.

Liam Clark, aged 16, was in a coma for more than a month after the horrific crash involving two off-road bikes on land near the Dream sculpture, in Sutton Manor.

The St Cuthberts pupil sustained traumatic head injuries, a collapsed lung and broke a vertebra in his back. He also damaged cruciate knee ligaments.

Three months on from the collision Liam is now awake in Alder Hey Hospital, however, the long term outlook is bleak, says his mother Nicky Woods, 37.

She told the Star: “He will be physically and mentally disabled for good – all for making a split second decision.

“On four occasions in intensive care, I was told that he wouldn’t get through the night.

“But he’s still here, when he shouldn’t be. For five weeks I slept in a chair at the hospital. I didn’t want to leave him.

“We have no idea when he will be out of hospital, but he will need 24 hour care.

“He sometimes responds to us and his carers, but at least he’s awake and that’s the main thing. He has had some of the top surgeons looking after him, because of the complexity of the brain.”

Faced with the prospect of moving to a specially adapted home and a dramatic change in lifestyle, Nicky has organised a special Santa stride on Monday, December 17 to Alder Hey Hospital from her home in Clock Face to raise cash for her son to ease the burden.

The mother-of-two said she has been amazed by the support she has received.

She added: “There will be around 50 people walking from my house, including family and friends and Liam’s younger brother Jamie (aged 10).

“He has been my rock. He has been through such a lot and has never looked for sympathy. His teachers can’t believe how he has coped.

“Liam has lost half his body weight so none of his clothes fit him and there are so many implications following the accident.”

Nicky still does not know a full account of her son’s accident and who he was with on the afternoon of Sunday, September 16, the date it happened.

She added: “I couldn’t even let my mum hug me. If someone showed any emotion towards me I would break down. But I need to be there for my boys.”

Nicky has also recruited around 60 people on her Facebook page, which has a profile photo of Liam in a red hooded top.