IT WAS the moment his teammates feared they might never see.

Rugby starlet Callum Parkinson lined up to kick a ball for the first time since a horrific road accident nearly claimed his life.

The 13-year-old, back at home for the first time since he was knocked down on June 9, had gone on crutches to watch his side, Newsome Panthers’ Under 14s, play.

Helped by his coach, Andy ‘Spike’ McGuire, he stepped up to take a kick at their game against Sheffield’s Hillsborough Hawks.

The club’s publicity officer Richard Netherwood said: “Callum being there was the highlight of the day.

“There was a time when we didn’t know if he was going to make it, but he has made a miraculous recovery and it was fantastic to see him.

“Watching him kick a ball was just brilliant.”

Callum, 13, was knocked down just yards from his home on Station Road in Fenay Bridge on the evening of June 9 after returning from rugby training.

He was flown by a Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter to Leeds General Infirmary, where he was treated for a serious brain injury.

Doctors told his parents, Andrew and Christine, there was little chance of him surviving.

But, after two brain operations and four weeks on a ventilator, the Almondbury King James’ School pupil started to recover.

He slowly regained some of his speech and has been learning to walk again.

Rugby-mad Callum was one of the Panthers’ star players and had been selected to play for the Kirklees service area team before his accident.

Christine said he had enjoyed returning to see his team in action.

She said: “He sat on a chair at the side of the pitch and it was marvellous. Everyone was coming up and shaking his hand.

“All he wants to do is get on the pitch to help the team win, but he knows it could be a year before he can try rugby again.”

From now on Callum will be in hospital during the week and at home at weekends.

This Sunday Newsome Panthers are holding a fundraising harvest festival event at the Fountain Inn pub on Towngate in Newsome for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Players, parents and staff have donated goods for hampers that will be auctioned off.

Mr Netherwood said: “The prompt actions of the air ambulance really saved Callum’s life. This was the least we could do to say thank you.”

The event starts at 1.30pm.