THE family of a teenager who is in a coma after hitting his head in a play area are campaigning for the park to be shut.
Sam Richards, of Mundon Road, Maldon, banged his head on a piece of wood after falling off a spinning rope ride at the Oak Tree Meadow play site, opposite Tesco, in Heybridge, just over a week ago.
As the 16-year-old Plume Academy pupil lies in a coma at Queen's Hospital, Romford, his distraught family want action to be taken to stop another accident like this happening again.
"It's really horrible that my brother is lying in hospital," said Sam's 18-year-old sister Amy.
"The whole family are at his bedside every day, everyone is trying to stay strong and be positive for Sam, but it's really awful.
"Sam is such a popular, fun person and loads of his friends from school have been to visit him, I think we had four car-loads one day.
"I've heard from lots of people about accidents that have happened at that park and I really want to highlight how dangerous it is.
"I want it to be closed.
"Because people haven't reported incidents to the council, they don't know how many have happened, so I really want people to come forward."
Sam, who was with friends at the park on September 28, was rushed to hospital with serious head injuries.
His mum has been at his bedside since the accident.
"My mum has been staying at a Premier Inn every night to be near Sam," added Amy, also a student at Plume Academy.
"It's good to talk to people in a coma, so that's what we've been doing.
"The doctors told us to prepare for the worst. But then, just this week, he started to move his hands and eyes, his eyes aren't focusing but it's good news.
"We just couldn't believe it, that's so Sam – he's not going to give up.
"But the doctor has said there will most likely be some degree of brain damage, but they won't know how much yet, or what will be affected.
"It's really horrible because our mum was just starting up her own events company and now she'll probably have to be a full-time carer."
Sam, who also has a 19-year-old brother, Luke, and younger sister, Maisie, was studying graphics, media and art.
"We don't want another accident like this to happen to anyone and think the park should be closed," said Amy.
If you have had an accident at Oak Tree Meadow play area, call the Chronicle news desk on 01245 602718.
