Parents of Blackpool crash biker give update on son, 19, who was airlifted to hospital last night

Speaking to the Gazette, the parents of 19-year-old Leo Sadler said their son is "lucky to be alive" but remains in a serious condition in Royal Preston Hospital.

Leo, from Squires Gate, came off his bike at 4.50pm after a crash with a car at the junction of St Anne's Road and St Martin's Road. The car then reportedly lost control and crashed into a wall, police said.Two ambulances, an air ambulance and an advanced paramedic attended the scene and Leo was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital for emergency treatment.

His parents, Joe and Laura Oliver, say their son is now stable but has suffered potentially 'life-changing' injuries.

This morning, Leo's dad, Joe, said: "He has broken his back in two places, broken his jaw, ankle, nasal passage and his eye socket.

"We are just waiting for the surgeons to determine if he has to have his back plated and pinned."

Asked whether his son is expected to make a full recovery, Joe said: "At this point we don’t know to be honest. They have said it’s not life threatening but can be life-changing. But it could have been a hell of a lot worse."

Leo's mum, Laura, says her son is "lucky to be alive" and has thanked those who cared for him after the crash.

She said: "It's the worst phone call you can get, to be told your child has been in an accident.

"But I want to say thank you to the man who sat with him and for helping him and everyone else who has helped him so far. He is so so lucky he is alive and not in a more serious condition."

St Anne's Road was closed for more than an hour whilst emergency services treated Leo at the scene and arrangements were made to airlift him to hospital.

Lancashire Police are now appealing for information and video footage following the crash.

A police spokesman said: "We were called to St Anne's Road at 4.50pm on Monday (June 7) following reports a Yamaha R125 motorcyclist had collided with a Toyota Corolla while performing an overtaking manoeuvre.

"The motorcyclist, a 19-year-old man, suffered a number of broken bones and was taken to hospital where his condition is described as serious but stable.

"The driver of the car was not injured. Nobody has been arrested.

"The road was closed for four hours while investigation work was carried out."

Sgt Andrew Hemingway, of West Tactical Operations, added: "This collision has left a man seriously injured and my thoughts are with him and his loved ones at this time.

"We now need to establish the full circumstances of the collision and I would ask anybody with information or anybody with dashcam or CCTV footage which could assist our enquiries to get in contact with the police as soon as possible.

Anyone with information is asked to email [email protected] or call 101, quoting log 1083 of June 7, 2021.

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