Bradley Trimmer with mum Melissa

The family of Dagenham crash victim Bradley Trimmer say the teenager will ‘never be the same again’ after doctors diagnose him with brain damage, but hopes remain high that he will rouse from his coma.

Messages of support and well-wishing have continued to flood in for the 13-year-old Eastbrook Comprehensive pupil with his school friends able to add their own thoughts and words of encouragement in a special card sent to the school.

Occasional hand-squeezes have kept the hope of some recovery alive and loved-ones now face the difficult task of waiting for Bradley to come around of his own accord before full assessment of his injuries can be made.

“He will never be the same boy again, which is really sad because he had his whole life ahead of him,” said Chrissie Snell, Bradley’s aunt. “His mum and dad are distraught. To go from having a child who had his whole life ahead of him to not knowing whether he will play football again, because it’s the not knowing that is the really hard and horrible bit.”

The Dagenham teenager is no longer on life support systems or the drugs that earlier kept him in an induced coma. He is receiving physical therapy and is being read aloud the messages left for him by well-wishers.

Bradley’s dad, Scott Martin, said he was thankful to everyone for all their support. Donations are now being collected with the aim of purchasing a tablet computer for the teenage football fan so he can watch films from his hospital bed.

“It’s heartbreaking. At the moment we cannot do anything to help.” added Chrissie. “I never want to see anyone in Bradley’s position again, it’s life changing for everyone involved.”