The mother of a young Liverpool supporter who was injured during the Liverpool parade crash on Monday shared her harrowing experience, recalling how she "feared the worst" while also expressing gratitude towards LFC fans for their immediate assistance.
Maria and her 12-year-old son Nikitas had made their way into the city centre to catch a glimpse of their Reds heroes at the Premier League victory procession in front of The Liver Building. After witnessing the bus go by, they joined the throng of fans retreating up Water Street.
Speaking to the Liverpool ECHO, Maria said: "Nikitas has been obsessed with Liverpool FC since birth and going to the parade has become a tradition for me and him, this was the third one we had been to together.. He was so excited."
She went on: "The plan was to go and grab a burger in town and then get the train home. There were thousands of people walking up Water Street at this point, and we couldn't see much. We were basically looking at our feet, with our hands in the air trying to take a view videos. The atmosphere was amazing, we were having a great time."
However, the joyful mood shifted abruptly, Maria explained, as suddenly the sound of a car honking and screams broke through. She described the traumatic moment: "I had limited visibility until the car literally came in front of us and hit us.", reports the Liverpool Echo.
Recounting the terrifying ordeal, she said: "I went flying to one side of the car and my son went flying to the other. I managed to get up off the floor, I was panicking looking around and then I saw my son lying still on the other side of the road. That's when I started freaking out, I lost it at that point.
"I saw people rush over to him, they lifted his head up and he started screaming 'mum, mum', so obviously I was thinking the worst, I didn't know what injuries he had at the time. I didn't think about being hit myself, I was just running on adrenaline."
Nikitas in his hospital bed
Nikitas in his hospital bed
On Friday, the court placed reporting restrictions that bar the media from identifying six complainants involved in Monday's incident. Nikitas and Maria are not subject to these restrictions.
Maria, who resides with her son in Liverpool, expressed her gratitude towards those who assisted Nikitas, saying: "I cannot thank the people that attended to my son enough. Passers-by, first responders, everyone. People were amazing. I wouldn't have expected less from our city.
"I felt this cross between shock and distress but also immense pride in what everyone did to help. I have never felt so much love."
Nikitas was whisked off to the Riva Blu restaurant by a paramedic, where others were also being tended to. His ankle had swelled up massively, and he was in considerable pain with his arm.
Post X-Rays at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, it turned out he had broken his ankle and wrist. He has since been reliant on a wheelchair for mobility.
Speaking about his injuries, his mum said: "It is very unfortunate for him because he is right handed, he's a gamer and an avid footballer, obviously it's half-term, it is very miserable for him.
"Mentally he is not doing great. He has moments, so do I. I was crossing the road the other day and someone came abruptly into the petrol station and I jumped back and started crying. You think you are ok and then something comes in and triggers it.
"On Nikie's side, because of his age, it is so frustrating, he is upset."
Nikitas is due to go back to Alder Hey for an assessment on his injuries on Tuesday. He is currently wearing large plaster casts on his arm and leg but has been told these may be changed.
His mother added: "He is quite excited about this because he has been told he can choose the colour of his new casts - and you know he is going for red."
Paul Doyle, 53, of Burghill Road in West Derby, stood before Liverpool's magistrates and crown courts on Friday, after being charged with a series of alleged offences relating to the incident in Water Street on Monday. He is next due in court for a plea hearing on August 14.