'He was stuck there behind the car and the step' - father speaks of moment young boy (5) was hit by car

Cormac Fitzgerald and Sarah Jane Murphy and Ralph Riegel

The father of a boy who was hit by a car and dragged 17 metres before becoming trapped under the vehicle has spoken of the moments immediately following the incident.

Daniel Brierley was knocked down by a passing car and dragged along the road for 17 metres last Friday, near St John's Well just off the Commons Road in Cork.

Paul Brierley said that he had to comfort Daniel (5) as he lay trapped beneath the vehicle while they waited for emergency services to come.

“He was actually behind the front left wheel of the car with his two hands out… He was stuck there behind the car and the step,” Mr Brierley told RTE’s Liveline.

“I just started talking to him about spiderman… I just kept the conversation as much as I could just to keep him calm.”

“He was calm, he was talking… I just had to keep talking and anyone who was crying I had to keep them away so he wouldn’t be in fear himself.

“His mother started screaming, running up and I tried to calm her down because she could frighten him more,” he said.

Emergency services arrived and managed to lift the car off Daniel and brought him to the hospital.

He suffered a fractured spine, dangerous bruising to the brain, a broken leg and a number of broken ribs as a result of the incident.

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However, his mother, Sharon told the Daily Mail that she was “walking on air” that Daniel managed to survive the horrifying incident.

“I’ve been walking on air ever since they told me he’ll be okay,” said Ms Brierley.

However, she said that Daniel is having nightmares in the hospital after the incident, and that she hopes he will be able to get over it.

“Every night I have to listen to him crying and that upsets us again,” she said

“I am hoping that because he’s young he will pull through it but he’s deep and he takes things seriously so we’re both worried.”

The accident took place outside Daniel's grandmother's house while he was playing with a friend.

A wasp started to chase Daniel and he ran out onto the road to avoid it and collided with the car.

The female driver of the car was unhurt but was treated at the scene for extreme shock.

Locals said she was very distressed at the scene.

Gardai commenced inquiries in the area seeking to speak to everyone at the accident scene.

Gurranabraher gardai appealed for anyone who witnessed the collision to contact them.