A five-year-old boy was left with a hole in his skull following a collision between an e-scooter and his bicycle. Henry Jackson was riding his bike outside his home in Northamptonshire when he crashed into an electric scooter, causing him to fall from his bicycle, according to police.
His family reported that he was rushed to hospital with a fractured skull, requiring surgery to extract bone fragments and debris from his head. The operation left him with a 3-4cm hole in his skull. After six days in hospital, Henry was discharged and is expected to make a full recovery.
Northamptonshire Police confirmed that a 33-year-old man was arrested on 10 May in connection with the serious collision between an e-scooter rider and a child on a bicycle. He has since been released on bail while further enquiries continue.
Family's Account
Henry's brother, Jamie Argent, 19, a roofer, described the incident: 'Henry is proper bright, bubbly and just gets along with everyone, no matter who they are. He was just playing outside on his bike, and the next minute his clothes were all covered in blood, it was so scary.' He added that when he visited Henry in hospital, 'he was all wrapped up in bandages, he looked so drained and had no energy.'
The family is relieved to have Henry home. 'We're over the moon to have him home after six days. He's back to his lively self again,' Jamie said. However, he emphasized the need for stricter e-scooter rules.
Medical Details
Henry was initially taken to Northampton General Hospital before being transferred to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, where surgeons performed a two-hour operation to remove bone fragments and debris from his skull. Due to his age and size, doctors were unable to fit a metal plate to cover the hole. Henry is expected to make a full recovery but will need to take extreme care with his head for the rest of his life because part of his skull is missing.
Call for Tighter Regulations
Jamie is now calling for far tighter regulations governing e-scooters to prevent further incidents. The family is also fundraising to buy Henry a new bike, as his previous one was destroyed in the collision, and to support his recovery. Donations can be made via a GoFundMe page.
Police Investigation
Northamptonshire Police stated that detectives are investigating the serious road traffic collision, which occurred at around 6.15pm on Tuesday, May 5, on Greenfield Avenue, Northampton. The 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage to contact them via email at CollisionAppeals@northants.police.uk or call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615, or Northamptonshire Police on 101.
