“Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers” - King’s Lynn Stars speedway rider Lewis Kerr in induced coma following horrific crash

Speedway rider Lewis Kerr is back home. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant)

She later sent another tweet saying: 'Thank you to absolutely everybody, the speedway world has been incredible, Lewi will be so gobsmacked xx Jessie.'

The horrific crash last night was witnessed by the rider's parents and pregnant wife.

Mr Kerr, 25, was competing for his lower-level side Newcastle at the Premier League Fours meeting in Peterborough yesterday when he was involved in a high-speed accident.

The Heacham-based racer lost consciousness as a result of the crash and was treated by paramedics for more than an hour before being flown by air ambulance to Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge.

Mr Kerr is thought to have sustained severe head injuries in the sickening incident which was witnessed by his mother Jane, father Robert and his wife – who he married in November.

Young Stars boss Dale Allitt, who was at the event, said: 'The thoughts and prayers of everyone in the sport as a whole are with Lewis.

'He is a great guy who I have known since he took his first steps into the sport with the Young Stars at King's Lynn. We can only hope for good news in the coming days. Lewis is a fighter and, if anyone can pull through adversity, it is him.'

The event was immediately abandoned with several riders said to have been left in floods of tears by the distressing scenes.

Speedway Control Burea (SCB) referee made the call to halt the action after just three races while treatment to the stricken Mr Kerr took place at the East of England Showground.

British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA) chairman Alex Harkess said: 'Lewis is in a stable condition and is in the very best place for care and attention.

'There was no alternative but to abandon the meeting. All of the riders were in no state to continue after seeing what had happened.

'Our thoughts are with Lewis and his family, and we wish him a full, successful and speedy recovery.'

Mr Kerr, born and raised in Snettisham, is a popular figure in the British scene after progressing through the ranks at Lynn to make his senior Elite League debut last season.

Six years' worth of progression at the Adrian Flux Arena has seen him land two Great Britain call-ups for the annual World Cup. Mr Kerr is still waiting to make his GB debut.

A host of riders and fans took to Twitter last night to pass on their best wishes to the soon-to-be father.

Team-mate Ashley Morris said his heart had sunk as he realised how serious Mr Kerr's condition was while fellow Star Rory Schlein – who was almost left paralysed by a crash in Poland earlier this year – said he was thinking of his colleague.