Maria and her son attended Monday's title victory parade but were caught up in the horror when a car ploughed into a dense crowd of pedestrians in a city centre street
16:56, 31 May 2025
Nikitas was enjoying the LFC parade before he was hit by a car travelling down Water Street
Nikitas was enjoying the LFC parade before he was hit by a car travelling down Water Street(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The mum of a young Liverpool fan injured during the club's title victory parade horror told how she "feared the worst" when she saw her lad lying on the floor in agony after being hit by a car.
Maria and her footie-mad son Nikitas, 12, 'went flying' after being struck by the grey Ford Galaxy that ploughed into a dense crowd on Water Street in the city centre on Monday, May 26.
She said she managed to get off the floor but panicked when she saw Nikitas still lying in a heap. She said: "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 was left in hospital after the horror
Nikitas was left in hospital after the horror(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Nikitas was carried by a paramedic to the Riva Blu restaurant at the top of Water Street which was being used as a makeshift triage centre by medics. His ankle had ballooned and his arm was causing him a lot of pain.
He was then taken by ambulance to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, where X-Rays revealed he had suffered fractures to his ankle and wrist. He has since been using a wheelchair to get around.
Maria had travelled to the city centre with Nikitas to watch their Kop idols parade the Premier League trophy in front of The Liver Building. When the bus had passed they made their way back up Water Street with hundreds of other people, when the horror happened.
Nikitas was injured in Monday's horror
Nikitas was injured in Monday's horror(Image: Liverpool Echo)
She told the Liverpool Echo : "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.
"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."
But that atmosphere changed when Maria said she suddenly started hearing the noise of a vehicle beeping and people screaming. She recounted: "I had limited visibility until the car literally came in front of us and hit us."
Nikitas and his mum 'went flying' after being hit by the car
Nikitas and his mum 'went flying' after being hit by the car(Image: PA)
While reporting restrictions imposed in court prevent the media from naming six complainants from Monday's incident, Nikitas and Maria are not covered by them.
Maria, who lives with her son in Liverpool, added: "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.
"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.
Almost 80 people were injured in the horror
Almost 80 people were injured in the horror(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
"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"
Paul Doyle, 53, of Burghill Road in West Derby appeared before Liverpool's magistrates and crown courts on Friday after being charged with seven offences, including GBH. He is next due in court for a plea hearing on August 14.
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