The mother of a teenager ‘lucky to be alive’ after a traffic accident has thanked the emergency crews that she says saved his life.

Sidmouth Herald: Kieran Grant's smashed motorcycle. Ref shs 4089-42-15SH. Picture: Simon HornKieran Grant's smashed motorcycle. Ref shs 4089-42-15SH. Picture: Simon Horn (Image: Archant)

Julie Long, of Baker Close, this week recalled the ‘horrendous’ moment she received a message saying her son, Kieran Grant, had been airlifted to hospital.

Kieran, 17, had been motorcycling with friends in Otterton on Saturday, October 3, when he was involved in a collision that saw him airlifted to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E).

A police spokesman said officers were called to the scene at 1.50pm and that the casualty was reported to have gone over the bonnet of the car and ended up in the road.

Kieran has no recollection of the incident.

On behalf of the whole family, Julie has extended a heartfelt thanks to the anonymous paramedic and fireman, who had been eating lunch in the nearby Kings Arms and were first on the scene.

The mum-of-three said: “I would love to know who the two people are because I think they probably had a massive part in saving his life. I would like to thank them in person.”

She also said how grateful she is to the staff and owner of the pub, the Devon Air Ambulance crew, paramedics from Exmouth ambulance station and PC Ian Schofield from Exmouth’s police team – all of whom were ‘fantastic’.

Julie added: “The Kings Arms staff were absolutely amazing. They were there until the emergency services arrived and they thought it was going to be a fatality. It has been absolutely horrendous. We are just so thankful that he is still here. Considering he was not going to make it, he has been pretty lucky.”

Kieran, a Bicton College student who works part time for a landscape gardening company, is now starting the long road to recovering at home after undergoing an operation on a fractured femur last Wednesday.

Julie works in the RD&E and says it was even worse knowing many more parents would be in her situation.

As a mother, she says she is now fearful at the idea of her son getting back on a motorcycle and wants to spread the word urging drivers to take extra care and look out for bikers on the roads.