Mum speaks out after 8yo son was pinned to another car while playing soccer

The Melbourne boy has since undergone seven surgeries to recover from the near-fatal collision. 

It was early evening when two young boys began playing in their grandparents’ home. 

On 26 September, Burak, three, and eight-year-old Huseyin played soccer in their grandparents’ backyard in Melbourne’s west. 

Located in the driveway at the rear of the Braybrook property, they were totally unaware a car was hurdling towards them. 

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The two boys were playing soccer in the driveway when a car crashed into them. Source: 7News

Melbourne mum “thought she lost” her son who was pinned to a car

Ngoc Than Vo was behind the wheel of a Toyota Prado, allegedly jumping in the car without much experience before accelerating towards the two boys and hitting three cars in the process. 

A parked car was pushed into the 3yo, leaving him with only minor injuries. 

But eight-year-old Huseyin was pinned to another car, trapping him between the bull bar and the back of a second and unable to move until paramedics freed him. 

Rushed to the Royal Children's Hospital with life-threatening injuries to the top and lower half of his body, his mother, Demet, instantly thought the worst. 

“I thought I lost him,” she told 7News. “I was just screaming, ‘I lost him, I lost him’”

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Huseyin has undergone seven surgeries with more expected this week. Source: GoFundMe, 7News

Doctors confident 8yo will recover

It’s been 15 days since the accident, and Huseyin has undergone seven surgeries, with more scheduled later this week. 

In spite of his horrific injuries, Huseyin defies the odds by eating by himself and talking. And while he’s not walking yet, doctors are confident he’ll be back to his regular self within 12 months. 

He won’t even let his time in the hospital take away from his schooling and managing to complete homework from his bed.

“[I’m] healthy [and] in good hands with my doctors and nurses,” the child told hospital staff in a video. 

But mother Demet confessed there’s still a long road ahead of them. “He’s not confident [seeing] himself still in the mirror,” she said. “Every second day, he’s getting skin grafts.” 

“It’s ongoing surgeries still, like tomorrow, and there’s one on Friday again for his artery.” 

A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover the costs for the Melbourne family while their 8yo recovers. 

Ngoc Than Vo, the driver of the Toyota Prado, had only been in Australia for six days from Vietnam when the incident occurred. 

He faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 28 September, where they heard he was unfamiliar with driving and did not have a license. 

The man has since been charged with reckless conduct endangering serious injury, careless driving and unlicensed driving and was released on bail. 

He will return to court on 31 January 2024. 

Originally published as Mum speaks out after 8yo son was pinned to another car while playing soccer