Saturday 27 June, 2009

Date: 29 April, 2009
Place: South Manchester

A mother whose young son was knocked down in a hit-and-run accident says he is lucky to be alive.

Five-year-old Asif Rauf was playing on his bike outside the family home on a residential Levenshulme street, when two cars came racing down the road.

Asif was knocked to ground but the drivers sped off rather than stopping to see if he was hurt. Neighbours on Milford Drive, who saw what happened, ran to his aid and called out to his mum, Nailah Farid, who was inside.

He was taken to Stepping Hospital and, although he was not seriously injured, he was bruised and shaken by the incident.

Nailah said: "I’m so angry that they could drive off and leave Asif without seeing if he was ok.

"My neighbours said the drivers were going like maniacs, but they must have realised they’d knocked him down.

"He was crying out in pain and he could have been killed.

"He’s lucky to be alive. It was very traumatic and a horrible shock."

It is believed the two cars – a blue Ford Mondeo and a silver car – were racing down the street, side by side.

Asif had to have more than a week off from Alma Park Primary School to recover from his bruises and traumatic experience.