Huddersfield teenager Callum Parkinson critical after accident

Jun 11 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A YOUNG rugby player was in a critical condition last night after being involved in what is believed to have been a tragic accident.

Callum Parkinson, 13, had to be airlifted to hospital in Leeds after he was involved in an accident with a car at Station Road in Fenay Bridge on Tuesday evening.

The youngster was returning from training with Newsome Panthers rugby league club when he was in collision with a car at about 7.35pm.

He suffered serious head injuries and was taken by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary.

Callum’s family were too upset to talk about what had happened yesterday.

But Newsome Panthers secretary Mark Farrell said the club had been left shocked by the news.

He said: “We are very concerned and our thoughts are with Callum and his family.

“We all know Callum. He has been with us for about five or six years and he’s a really nice kid.

“He’s not the biggest, but he works really hard at his game and is a good little player. He’s no trouble to anyone.”

Mr Farrell said the incident happened after a member of the club gave Callum a lift home.

“He had been at training and had been driven home,” he said. “As far as we know, he just got out of the van, crossed the road and didn’t see the car coming.

“There was a gentleman who lives across the road from Callum’s family who is a paramedic and he saw what happened and was straight out.