Boy, 11, hit by tram 'has long road to recovery'

Travis suffered life changing injuries when he was hit by a tram

Friends of an 11-year-old boy who is in intensive care after being struck by a tram have rallied round to support his family.

Travis, who was hit at Crossacres tram stop in Wythenshawe, Manchester, on 7 October, has had several operations.

Family friend Helen Reid told the BBC he was a "lovely little lad" who loved racing motocross bikes at the club she helps to run, Cheshire North West Schoolboy Scramble Club.

The 51-year-old described Travis as a "lovely, lovely little lad".

Travis, pictured with his father Simon

Ms Reid has shared updates from Travis's family on a crowdfunding page set up to help the family while he recovers.

Describing Travis, she said: "He's absolutely hilarious and he has everybody in stitches when he's chatting to people.

"He just loves his sport. He absolutely loves racing.

"The whole family are great."

The boy was struck at the Crossacres tram stop, police said

Ms Reid said the accident had come as a "really big shock" and was "heart-breaking".

In an update shared on the fundraising page on Sunday, Travis's mother Claire thanked the motocross community for their support.

She wrote: "The outpouring of love Travis and ourselves have received... is just unbelievable and overwhelming."

Claire said the family would respond to the messages of support "slowly but surely".

She added: "All the men that have offered Dad an ear to calm down, be strong for Travis, and just listen if he needs... old friends, new friends, mx [motocross] dads - you truly have the biggest hearts."

'Long road to recovery'

Ms Reid said she set up the page to help the family be with Travis on the long road to recovery.

"Whatever the outcome of all of this, at the end of the day, there's a long road to recovery here for Travis," she said.

"He's going to need his mum and dad around."

The fundraising page is up to £7,000.

Ms Reid said: "There's been a lot of outpouring for him, a lot of support, but that's the motocross community for you.

"If anybody's injured in any way, whether it's at the track or away from the track, they all dig deep."

Transport for Greater Manchester, which runs the tram network, said it was supporting the police, the Office of Rail and Road, and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch who are investigating the incident.