Steven Gerrard visits crash injury boy, 10, in hospital

Oct 3 2007 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

Steven Gerrard with 10 year old Jamie Hellawell inside Liverpools Alder Hey Hospital. Jamie is holding a pair of boots given to him signed by Wayne Rooney.

LIVERPOOL FC captain Steven Gerrard yesterday paid a hospital visit to the ten-year-old boy who was injured in a collision with his car.

Gerrard visited schoolboy Jamie Hellawell, who suffered a broken leg in the accident on Monday, with a gift of a pair of rival Manchester United player Wayne Rooney’s football boots – and the promise of VIP match tickets when he has recovered.

Man Utd supporter Jamie, from Southport, was knocked down after stepping into the side of the Gerrard’s luxury car, a £140,000 Bentley convertible, on Grantham Road in the resort.

The Liverpool skipper immediately stopped the car and stayed comforting the boy until an ambulance arrived.

Gerrard arrived with a friend at Alder Hey Hospital yesterday afternoon for a brief private meeting with Jamie and his mother Helen, 33.

He handed the boy a pair of boots worn by Wayne Rooney and signed by the Man Utd striker.

He also presented him with an England shirt, autographed by the entire 2007 squad.

It is understood that Gerrard told the boy: “I was worried about you there. But I’m glad to hear that you are OK and that you are going to be all right.

“I heard that you are a Manchester United fan so I got on to Wayne and got these boots for you. I hope you like them.”

Following a series of tests and X-rays the boy is scheduled to undergo an operation on a compound fracture of his left leg.

His mother Helen Hellawell said: “I was really shocked when my dad came and told me that Jamie had been knocked down. I went straight to Grantham Road, where it happened.

“Steven was upset and was holding Jamie’s hand. He was lovely and waited with us until the ambulance and police arrived.

“Jamie is quite chirpy and is putting on a very brave face.

“He was absolutely delighted that Steven came to visit him in hospital and was speechless when he saw the special gifts that Steven had brought him.”

A spokesman for Alder Hey said Jamie had suffered a fractured left tibia and fibula.

The Liverpool captain stayed on the ward for fifteen minutes chatting to other patients and leaving them all with autographed photographs.

Gerrard also told Jamie that Rooney has promised to arrange VIP tickets for he and his mother to see a match at Old Trafford after he has recovered.

vickyanderson@dailypost.co.uk