‘Devastating’: Family of teenager struck by allegedly stolen car outside St Edmunds College speaks out

The aunt of one of the teenagers hit by an allegedly stolen car in front of his Canberra school has spoken out about her nephew’s injuries as he recovers from major surgery. Two teenage students, aged 14 and 15, were standing on Canberra Ave near St Edmund’s College on Friday morning when they were struck by a green Holden Commodore station wagon. Both boys were taken to Canberra Hospital in a serious condition, with one boy undergoing emergency surgery for his injuries. “Our two boys remain in the ICU at Canberra Hospital, where they are surrounded by their loving families,” St Edmund’s College principal Tim Cleary told NewsWire on Tuesday. “They continue to require ongoing procedures and medical intervention, so we kindly ask that you continue to keep them in your prayers as they fight through this challenging period.” The aunt of one of the teenagers struck by the car has spoken to NewsWire about the teenager’s recovery. “He is extremely lucky to be alive,” she said, adding he had a “very long road to recovery”. The 15-year-old’s left arm has lost its feeling and function, and while he has already undergone surgery, doctors are yet to determine whether he will regain use of his arm. “Our biggest concern at this stage is his left arm, which had to have significant surgery to try and repair the nerves,” his aunt told NewsWire. “It’s devastating.” When the teen woke up on Saturday, he began spelling letters on his father’s hand and asked if his friend, who was also injured in the incident, was OK. “He’s such a compassionate boy,” his aunt said. “They haven’t seen each other yet, but hopefully at some stage, they can get together.” Heartbreakingly, despite regaining consciousness, the 15-year-old is yet to understand the extent of his injuries. As a left-hander, he would have to make a few adjustments, his aunt said. “There is a chance that future surgeries may help to bring some feeling back into his arm,” she said. “But the reality is, he’ll have to switch to be right-handed.” The teen is described as a “very caring” and “supportive” boy who loves playing a variety of sports. “He’s such a sporty little boy,” his aunt said, adding he was excited to start playing again in the coming fortnight. “Losing the use of his dominant hand along with the injuries he has sustained to his right leg will be extremely difficult for him to cope with,” she said in a GoFundMe campaign, which will raise money for his rehabilitation. “It’s so incredibly heartbreaking that this has been taken away from him.” At the time of the accident, the teenager was counting down the days until he could earn his learner’s permit. “As soon as he was old enough, he applied for a job and has been working there for the past year, saving all his pennies to buy his very first car,” the aunt said. His brothers haven’t left his side since the accident, she told NewsWire. “They’re very closely bonded, so it has been really tough on them,” she said. “But they’re supporting him so well. “They’re just with him there all day, every day. They barely leave his side.” His aunt said the thought of her nephew watching his brothers experience “all the things he looked forward to” was devastating for his entire family. “I can’t even imagine how this will affect our little man emotionally, but he is the toughest kid I know and such a little fighter,” she said. “Throughout this terrible ordeal, he has been more concerned about how his little mate is doing than himself.” About 7.40am on Friday, a 31-year-old Victorian man allegedly stole the green Holden Commodore from a childcare centre in Sutton, NSW. An eight-year-old girl is believed to have been inside the car when it was stolen. She was released from the vehicle about 100m down the road and was not harmed during the incident. About 30 minutes after allegedly stealing the car, the driver entered the ACT border and struck the teenagers. He then drove along Canberra Ave before ploughing into other vehicles and coming to a stop near a shopping precinct, police said. The man allegedly tried to flee the scene but was apprehended by a group of tradies before being taken into custody by police. The driver was charged with unlicensed driving, driving a motor vehicle without consent, dangerous driving, and two counts of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. He faced ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday and will reappear at court at a later date. A police spokesman acknowledged the collision would have been a “confronting scene for witnesses”. “We encourage anyone who witnessed that incident to seek professional support,” they said.