A 9-year-old boy has died after a bike crash in Co Antrim, police have confirmed.
The crash involving two bikes happened in the Dunclug area of Ballymena on Thursday, June 16.
He died in hospital as a result of his injuries after the incident which happened at around 4.55pm.
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A second boy aged 13 was taken to hospital and is understood to be in a critical condition this morning, June 17.
Police say the boys were the riders of the two bikes.
A PSNI spokesperson added: "A full investigation is underway and Detective Sergeant Neil Harrison is appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision, or who has mobile phone footage which could assist officers with their enquiries, is asked to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101, quoting reference number 1342 of 16/06/22."
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) previously said: “NIAS received a 999 call at 16:47 following reports of two children having been injured following a biking incident in the Dunclug area of Ballymena this afternoon.
“NIAS despatched three Emergency Crews and a Doctor to the scene and also tasked the Charity Air Ambulance, with HEMS crew on board, to the incident.
“Following assessment and initial treatment one child was flown by Air Ambulance to the Royal Group of Hospitals in Belfast while the other was taken to the same location by ambulance.”
SDLP Ballymena Councillor Eugene Reid has expressed his condolences.
He said: “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family of the nine-year-old child who has tragically died following the serious motorcycle accident yesterday in the Dunclug area. The news of this death will come as a huge shock to the local tight-knit community. To lose a child, especially in these circumstances, is just horrendous and my thoughts are with the child’s family as they struggle to cope with the worst news imaginable for a parent.
“I would like to express my sympathies with the other child involved in this incident and their family. I know the whole community will join me in wishing them a speedy recovery and our thoughts are with them as they receive medical treatment.
“I also thank those local people who tended to the injured immediately after the incident and who are undoubtedly traumatised by the incident, as well as to the emergency services who administered first aid and ensured the injured got the best medical treatment possible.”
Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Alderman Noel Williams, added: “I am deeply saddened by the news that a young boy has passed away following yesterday evenings incident and I wish to offer my condolences to his family.
“My thoughts and prayers are with both families and I ask that they are given the space they need at this very difficult time.
“I would like to thank the emergency services and in particular the Air Ambulance for their quick response to this incident and for getting the children the medical assistance needed.”
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