A FATHER whose son narrowly escaped being paralysed after a cycling accident has urged parents to make sure children wear a helmet when they saddle up.

Ten-year-old Numaan Khan, of Church Cowley Road, Oxford, lay unconscious in intensive care at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, for five days.

The youngster was involved in an accident with a Vauxhall Omega in Iffley Road, near Henley Avenue, on Friday, July 27.

It was not until he opened his eyes on Tuesday, July 31, that his family knew the schoolboy, who loves riding his cycle, would ever be able to walk, talk and even see again.

Dad Hassan Khan said: "He is very lucky. He was not wearing a cycle helmet because he did not have one. That was a mistake we have learned from, it has cost him, and us, dearly."

It is thought the driver had been pulling around a bus when the collision occurred and police are checking CCTV footage from bus.

The family has been told that Numaan has suffered some level of brain damage but it is not yet clear how serious.

However, the youngster, who is still undergoing hospital treatment, was able to recognise his teacher from Larkrise Primary School when he visited.

The effect on his ability to walk will not be known until he has spent some more time with physiotherapists.

Mr Khan, who has four other children and is a taxi driver, has spent every night at the hospital since his son's accident. He said: "My son cannot talk properly yet, his speech is slurred. They say it will be six months to two years to recover properly."

His cousin, Saheed Akram, of Bartlemas Road, said: "He is doing very well considering what the doctors first said. They said he might be paralysed on one side, and that he might not be able to see. This could happen to anyone."

Now Mr Khan is stressing safe riding.

He said: "I would say to parents, if their children have a bike they should buy the helmet because it could save their life. This was a lucky escape and for five or six days he was fighting for his life."

Mr Khan also called on drivers to be more careful when overtaking buses and to be wary about pedestrians or cyclists crossing in front.

Cycle campaign group Cyclox's chairman James Styring said: "I think getting training and being a confident and competent cyclist is far more important than anything else.

"Wearing a helmet will help people in some circumstances, but that has to be down to the parents.

"The most important thing for young kids is to be extremely careful around buses and HGVs."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Pc Howard Woolford on 08458 505 505.