SCHOOLBOY David Crossley's family is living in hope that he will be allowed home to continue his recovery - nine months after he was crushed by a quarter-tonne gravestone.

Jean and Jack Crossley, who visit their 10-year-old son's hospital bedside every day, still cling to the possibility that he will one day start to make a recovery.

David can only blink his eyes and makes stretching movements, but Jean said: "We were warned that it could take two years before there was any response at all.

"It all depends on just how much his brain was damaged in the accident."

David was injured in October after going out with friends to collect conkers at Burnley Cemetery.

They were sitting on the four feet high memorial when it collapsed, trapping David beneath it.

Mourners at the cemetery went to David's help, eventually managing to pull him clear.

Paramedics arrived and spent ten minutes resuscitating David, a pupil at Hargher Clough County Primary School.

He was critically ill, and it was believed the oxygen supply to his brain was cut off for several minutes.

He spent four months, including his tenth birthday, in North Manchester Hospital for Children. In February he was returned to Burnley General Hospital where he is in the Wilson Hey unit.

He has regained the weight he lost but mentally is very much the same, being unable to do anything for himself.

Jean said: "We now have him standing up but it takes three people. He does physio three times a week and the physiotherapist sees him every day.''

The family hopes that David can go home to be with his mum, dad and sister Ann-Marie.

"But that is still in the very early stages of discussion,'' said Jean.

A move would involve special adaptations to the family's new home in Prestwich Street and the family is suing Burnley Council for compensation which they plan to use to help their son.

A keen soccer player, David received a surprise visit from Burnley players Gerry Harrison and David Eyres, who gave him a club baseball cap.

He also received other gifts from Burnley and from his other favourite team, Manchester United.

Jean added: "Although things have not changed much in recent months we have got to live in hope. We cannot give up.''

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