The brother of a Leeds United fan fighting for his life after being run over during a series of devastating attacks in Nottingham has spoken about his condition for the first time.
Wayne Birkett, 60, was on his way to work when he was mowed down by a stolen van in the centre of Nottingham. He was rushed to hospital and is in a critical condition with severe head injuries. The attack claimed the lives of three people after being stabbed by a man.
Wayne is now awake and speaking, but struggling to remember his loved ones. His brother, Shaun Birkett, 58, told NottinghamshireLive: "Since the first night I went down, he looks 99 per cent better. But the only problem is that they're worried about his head.
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"It broke his pelvis, his collarbone and some ribs but they can only X-ray him tomorrow [Tuesday, June 20]. He's awake and conscious but sometimes we don't know what he's talking about.
"He doesn't know us, he doesn't know his dad or his little brother, but I'm sure he'll get better, that's what they're saying. We've just got to keep talking to him and reminding him of things.
"But I'm okay, I've had my cries, from seeing him from the first time to now, I've seen the improvements so I'm feeling more positive myself.
"I'm just praying there are no long [term] effects." Wayne, who works at a welding company, was born in Balderton, in Newark-on-Trent, and moved closer to Nottingham around 18 years ago. The dad of one will now have an X-ray today, June 20, which will help doctors understand whether his injuries will have any long-term impact.
Wayne's son, Jordan, has also been at the hospital every day to look after his dad along with Shaun. Wayne's former partner Jane had sadly died last year.
Shaun added: "I've never been through this, I don't know how he's going to survive if he gets out, and if he's going to be alright. We've just got to keep our fingers crossed I suppose. We've had some good support."
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Jennifer Crowden, who has organised the GoFundMe which you can donate to here, added: "Wayne will need all the support he can get, so I hope the GoFundMe will help him get sorted. Wayne is going to need a lot of help in his recovery and he could be off work for months or even if he will be able to return to work, with the cost of living and how things are these days any help and support would be greatly appreciated."
Grace Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19-year-old University of Nottingham students, were killed at 4am on Tuesday, June 13, in Ilkeston Road. School caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was also killed in the deadly series of attacks.
Suspect Valdo Calocane, 31, has been remanded in custody accused of murdering the three victims. Calocane is also alleged to have attempted to murder three pedestrians – Wayne Birkett, Marcin Gawronski and Sharon Miller – after Mr Coates’ van was used to drive at people in Milton Street and Upper Parliament Street. He will appear at Nottingham Crown Court today on Tuesday, June 20.
