A GREENOCK schoolboy has been left blind in one eye after a freak accident.

Nine-year-old Ciaran Donnelly had been out on his bike making the most of the school holiday when he suddenly found himself being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.

The St Mary’s Primary pupil had swerved to avoid hitting his little sister Amy, six, causing him to fall off and the handle bar to sink into his left eye.

He has now suffered a loss of vision and has to wear a patch.
Dad Kevin, 41, said: “It was an innocuous accident but it’s created all sorts of problems, including fractured bones in his eye socket.

“It swelled so much and because of the pressure the optic nerve was starved of oxygen and muscle detached from the eye.

“Now he’s lost sight in his left eye.

“He can’t see anything, it’s pitch black.”

Ciaran was initially taken to Inverclyde Royal before being rushed to the Royal Alexandra in Paisley then the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Govan for emergency surgery to relieve the swelling and repair the damage.

The youngster now faces another operation on Friday and it is unclear whether he will be able to see out of the affected eye again.

Kevin said: “Doctors don’t ever rule it out.

“There’s a degree of optimism but we’re realistic that he might never see in that eye again.

“But in this day and age you never know.

“The Queen Elizabeth is brilliant, it’s a fantastic hospital.”

Despite the accident, young Ciaran, who lives in Newark Street with dad Kevin, mum Leona, 38, and sister Amy, has kept his sense of humour.

The keen footballer plays for the Morton 2008s side and has just returned to training.

He was invited to be a VIP guest at a recent Ton training session where he met the first team, including his favourite player Jai Quitongo.

Ciaran said: “It was good watching the players and to get their autographs and I spoke to Jim Duffy as well.

“The accident hasn’t stopped me much and I wasn’t worried when it happened.

“It was my sister’s birthday, and I got more cards than her!”

Along with his dad, Ciaran was also a guest of honour at a recent Celtic game and met Hoops stars and legends, including members of the famous Lisbon Lions side.

Kevin said: “He’s been stronger than his mum and dad.

“It’s a shame, he spent about two-thirds of his summer holidays in hospital but he never cried once.

“They had to cut the side of his eye to stop the swelling but he was laughing and thought he was Darth Vader.

“We thought he was going to get a ‘shiner’ but it was a lot worse.

“I’m only just getting over it now but you can’t stop Ciaran — he’s as strong as an ox.”