A heartbroken mother has described her devastation after being told doctors feared the worst and thought her son was "going to die" after an accident while on holiday.
Steph Burke flew out to see her son, 15-year-old Liam Staniforth-Burke, after he suffered serious injuries when he fell through a glass door in a hotel in Turkey while on holiday. The boy, from Hattersley, suffered severe cuts to his neck, stomach, hip and hands and he remains in hospital in Antalya.
The accident has left Liam with probable life changing injuries with his family in a race against time to secure the money for an operation. When his 34-year-old mum saw Liam, who was on a holiday with family friends, there were fears Liam would die of his injuries but he has since pulled through.
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Speaking today to the Mirror, mother-of-one Steph said: "It has made his mouth drooping and unless that is sorted and quickly with this surgery, it could be devastating. His mouth on the right-hand side isn't moving. He will have disabilities and have injuries that will effectively change his life.
"It could have been worse. When I arrived, there was thought he was going to die. I nearly broke down when I saw him there."
Steph says the surgery costs at least £5,000, and the family have set-up a GoFundMe page. Liam has already undergone one operation, which may have saved his life.
"It's a sliding door, and he's gone to go to open it but tripped, put his hand out and he's gone through it," Steph, who is a bartender, continued. I am very emotional, and a lot has been going through my head because I arrived panicking for him and seeing him in that state was tough.
"He could have long-term damage and it's upsetting. The cut is from his ear down to his shoulder and his neck, it's awful.
"It could have been a lot worse. I was dreading going over here and not coming back with him. I nearly broke down seeing him. I had to take a moment to compose myself."
The youngster lost a significant amount of blood due to the cuts to his neck, stomach, hip and hands. Liam did not have travel insurance and the family friends with him, who have known him since he was a baby, are "devastated".
Steph added: "Make sure you take that travel insurance out. He definitely needs help so I can get my son back home. We are raising money though, and quite a few donations are from strangers, people we don't know.
"I am grateful, I don't like asking for money. I never ask for money, people have got nothing and are still donating. It's wonderful."
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been contacted for comment.
To donate to the Gofundme page, click the link.
