A schoolboy who spent more than two weeks on a life support machine after suffering a head wound from an airgun could be back home at the weekend.

Richard Bryant, 13, came within a whisker of death when a pellet passed from one side of his head to the other - just missing his brain stem.

Speaking for the first time since the incident, Richard's mother said today her son has made a miraculous recovery.

She said: "He is a brave lad and no-one can believe how much progess he has made.

"There were times when he was on the life support machine that we thought we would lose him forever."

Richard was playing close to his home in Tudor Green, Jaywick, on January 4. when he suffered the injury.

He was taken to Colchester General and then on to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, for specialist treatment. He was on life support equipment for 2 weeks and had a five-hour operation to remove the pellet.

Mrs Bryant found it difficult to stay at the hospital: "There were so many tubes, pumps and needles everywhere - it was frightening.

"Our lives came to a standstill and it was touch and go. We have lost Richard as he was before but we will have to take it one step at a time."

Mrs Bryant said Richard still had problems with his sight and short-term memory.

But she was quick to praise doctors and nurses. "I cannot thank them enough," she said."It is due to them Richard is alive today."

Mrs Bryant, who has another son, Ronnie,11, said the family had also received a great deal of support: "We have had letters and cards from people we do not even know."

She said Brian Davis, head at Frobisher School and Steve Ling, a teacher at Colbayns High School in Clacton - where Richard is a pupil - had been marvellous.

Richard is now back at Colchester Hospital and could be home at the weekend. He will have a home tutor and may be able to start back at Colbayns part-time after the summer holidays.

"It will just be great to have him back home with us," added Mrs Bryant.

Essex Police said a 14-year-old boy had been reported in connection with the incident and papers sent to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration.

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