A mother fears her son may never walk again after falling on to overhead railway cables carrying 25,000 volts of electricity.

Fifteen-year-old John Walker, of Westroyd Crescent, Shipley, suffered burns and possible spinal injuries after falling from the bridge over railway lines near Thackley Old Road, West Royd, just before 9pm on Sunday.

He was transferred yesterday from intensive care at Bradford Royal Infirmary to a specialist burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

It is believed that John, a pupil at Salts Grammar School, who has three brothers Simon, eight; Daniel, six; and Bryan, 21; and one sister Victoria, eight; slipped from the bridge while playing with friends before hitting an overhead electric cable and then landing on the tracks.

Shocked mum Michelle, 39, said: "I'm devastated. Doctors have said he might not walk again."

She added: "The first I knew about it was when two girls came knocking on my door saying he had fallen on the track. One girl was in hysterics.

"I ran down there to see him but the police said that it would be best if I didn't because he was in such a bad way.

"When I got to the hospital I just kissed him and told him I was there.

"He's an adventurous lad who gets up to everything a 15-year-old boy does.

"A lot of people have said that he's a loveable rogue and he's got a cheeky grin."

John's friend Aiden Baldwin, 13, of Leeds Road, was there when the accident happened. He said that John had been upset after another friend was knocked down.

He said: "I saw a blue flash and heard a big bang then all I knew was a girl was crying and John was on the track with his head across the line. It was lucky there wasn't a train coming. All his friends are really upset."

British Transport Police are asking for witnesses to call 0800 405040.

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