A Beccles teenager who was involved in a serious motorcycle accident has donated gifts to children being treated at the hospital he spent weeks in.

Eastern Daily Press: Callum Rider and his mum Emma (back row) with some of the play team on the children and young persons unit at the James Paget University Hospital.Callum Rider and his mum Emma (back row) with some of the play team on the children and young persons unit at the James Paget University Hospital. (Image: Archant)

Callum Rider was travelling to Lowestoft College just after the New Year when he came off his bike outside Tesco Express in Oulton Broad.

The 17-year-old was rushed to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston where he spent almost five weeks recovering from this injuries.

As a thank you for his care, Callum and his mum Emma have presented art supplies worth £200 to the children's ward, where he stayed from January 4 to February 6.

He said: 'I don't remember much of it as it all happened so quickly. I was going down towards Tesco Express on my way to college and then I thought 'right, brake' and the next thing I know I woke up with people helping me.

'We aren't sure what happened at the moment, but the road was damp and greasy. I remember saying 'am I dreaming?' and being told I wasn't.'

Callum was initially taken to the Paget, but he had to undergo surgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for a cracked pelvis before returning to Norfolk for his after care.

He had also chipped part of his pelvis, lacerated his kidney and suffered a broken wrist, which meant four weeks of bed rest.

'When I couldn't get out of bed the nurses moved my bed into the games room so I could watch the bigger screen TV or play on the Xbox and they would come in and talk to me.'

Mrs Rider, who works at Morrisons in Beccles, approached the supermarket's community champion Claire Grimson to ask if she would be prepared to donate some stationary to the unit.

She said: 'I know that Morrisons do an awful lot in the local community and they had recently donated some stationary to a school, so I asked my friend if we could donate a few pens and pencils and she said 'how about all of this'. I couldn't believe how much there was.

'We went up to the children's ward and they were so pleased to receive it. We couldn't help financially and we just wanted to say thank you for the way they looked after Callum.

'My husband and I could go home at night and not think he was on his own. They were always around to talk to him and keep an eye on him and they were fantastic with all his friends coming and going.

'Also on the days when he was stuck in bed and feeling down, they would know and made an effort to cheer him up.'

Callum, who is studying motor vehicles at college, said that the incident hadn't put him off riding his Honda CBR 125R and that once it was fixed he would be back to riding it.

'I feel extremely lucky because I've been given a second chance at life,' he said. 'These things happen and it makes you more aware, but without a doubt I'll get straight back on.

'It's my way of seeing my friends, going to college and I wear all the correct protective gear.'

Have you made a special donation? Email louisa.lay@archant.co.uk