Dad 'shattered' over skateboard accident

A Sydney father who towed his 12-year-old son on a skateboard behind his car is asking people to pray for the boy as he remains in a coma with critical injuries.

Ted Bain's son Lawrence and two young friends were clinging onto the rear of Mr Bain's Kia Sportage, being pulled along by the car, when they fell on a street in the inner western suburb of Marrickville about 8.30pm (AEDT) on Saturday.

Lawrence suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain when his head hit the ground.

Doctors have placed him in an induced coma.

The father told Network Ten in a statement he was "shattered".

"I am just devastated," he said.

"I just ask that you pray for my son."

Mr Bain described Lawrence to Daily Telegraph last night as his "best friend" and said "I don't think I can cope without him."

"I'm not the kind of dad who spends time down at the pub, I spend time with my family because family life means everything to me," he was quoted as saying.

Mr Bain reportedly said his other, younger son suffers from a form of Down syndrome and was confused about the situation.

Detective Inspector Phillip Battin told reporters the father "was fully aware that he was towing the boys" and he could face negligent driving charges.

It is believed that before the accident one of the skateboarders being towed yelled out to Mr Bain about the changing surface of the road.

"Shortly after that time, one of the young fellows, the 12-year-old son of the driver, lost his grip," Insp Battin said.

A police spokeswoman said the driver underwent blood and urine tests and inquiries were continuing.

Police have asked anyone who saw the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Author: Erin Tennant, Approving editor: Martin Zavan