Attacked boy's 'miracle recovery'

Stuart and Sharon Eastwell said they believed their son would die

A 17-year-old boy who was found in a street with serious head injuries will soon return home after what his family have called "a miraculous recovery".

Sam Eastwell ended up on life support after being attacked in Ramsgate, Kent.

His mother, Sharon Eastwell, said she believed her son would die after the assault last month, and said she kissed him goodbye before he had surgery.

Two 16-year-old boys have appeared at Margate Youth Court charged with wounding with intent and robbery.

They are due to appear in court next month.

'Organ failure'

Doctors had expected the teenager to remain in hospital for "a number of months".

Mrs Eastwell said: "His heart began to fail, his kidneys were failing, his liver was failing, and we all said goodbye to him before he was rushed to theatre."

But she added: "He was so strong.

"The doctors and the surgeons and the nursing staff at King's are amazed at how he's recovered.

"It has just been incredible. Sam himself says he's a miracle that he survived this."

Sam is an A-level student at Clarendon House Grammar School

She said her son was left in a coma with multiple organ failure, and surgeons at King's College Hospital in south east London had to remove a quarter of his skull.

Mrs Eastwell said: "It was just such a mindless, violent attack and there was no need for it.

"Young people today need to understand that the head injury itself wasn't just the cause of Sam nearly dying.

"It was everything else that happened after and young people need to realise the impact that has had on not just his family but the whole of Thanet."

She said the whole community gave its support, after her son, a pupil at Clarendon House Grammar School, was found in Albion Place on 7 August.