A 15-year-old boy has undergone a leg amputation following a hit-and-run incident while cycling home from his grandmother’s house
Liverpool: A tragic event unfolded just before Christmas when a 15-year-old boy named Zach Michaels was hit by a speeding car while cycling home. This happened on December 22, 2024, and it left him with severe injuries, including the loss of his leg.
Zach was on his way back from his grandmother’s house when the accident occurred. His mom, Maria, shared that the car was going at an alarming speed of 70 miles per hour. It all happened so fast, just moments after he left his gran’s place.
Neighbors rushed to help, covering him with blankets and calling for help. Maria recalled how they found out about the accident. “They alerted my mum, who told me and my partner,” she said, clearly shaken by the whole ordeal.
When they arrived, Zach was in a terrible state, suffering from multiple injuries. He was conscious and kept asking his mom if he was going to die. It was a heart-wrenching scene, and paramedics had to stabilize him right there on the road.
He was quickly taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where doctors worked tirelessly to save him. Unfortunately, his injuries were severe, leading to an above-the-knee amputation of his right leg after several surgeries.
Maria described the moment she had to sign the consent form for the amputation as one of the hardest things she’s ever done. “It was absolutely heartbreaking,” she said, knowing it was necessary to save his life.
After the surgery, Zach started to wake up and was told about his leg. His reaction was heartbreaking; he begged for his leg back and wanted to go home. But he’s showing incredible strength, saying he’ll just have to get on with it.
Doctors are still figuring out when he can go home, as he has a long road ahead of him. He’ll need to relearn how to move and deal with other injuries, too.
To help with his recovery, his aunt set up a JustGiving page, and they’ve already raised over £6,000 for the equipment he’ll need when he gets home. It’s a tough journey, but with support, they’re hopeful.
