Girl, 10, has half of her SKULL removed after freak trampoline accident

A YOUNG girl had half of her skull removed after a freak trampoline accident.

Aaliyah Rashid, 10, “will never be the same” after she smashed her head as she attempted a flip.

The youngster's family was horrified to discover that the impact had sparked a stroke and needed urgent surgery.

Her brain was so swollen that medics had no choice but to cut out half of he skull to relieve the pressure and save her life.

She had been playing with her three-year-old nephew, Zak, in Willington, Co Durham on March 10.

The little girl was first taken to a hospital in Durham before she was bluelighted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle for six hours of surgery.

Aaliyah's sister and Zak's mum, Sinead Watret, 22, has warned others about the dangers of trampolines.

“Aaliyah will never be the same as she was before, as the stroke was massive, she has lost all movement on her left side,” she told The Northern Echo.

“The hospital said so many children go in for treatment after trampoline accidents, they are very common.

“The doctors said that her brain was so swollen that the line in the middle of her brain was over near her ear. It was really bad.”

She said that after her sister banged her head, she seemed fine and was even able to walk five minutes back home from Sinead's house.

Her sister predicted that she will remain in hospital for the foreseeable future and may have to move to a specially-adapted house.

Aaliyah and Sinead's mum Kelly Parker, 43, is being supported by her other children – Beth, 19, Nathalie, 27 and Michael 25.

The older children are helping to look after Kelly's other young daughter, Sofia, 13.

Kelly has been staying at the Newcastle Children's Hospital and RVI while they wait to insert a metal plate to replace her skull.

Sinead said that Aaliyah needs constant supervision and care, explaining that she can't sit up or go to the toilet on her own and that she's not allowed to eat.

A fundraiser has been launched to help the costs of the 52-mile round trip from their home to the RVI, in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Loved ones are also shaving their heads to raise money, and in solidarity for Aaliyah who had half her head shaved before her operation.

Almost £300 has been raised and an iPad donated to keep her entertained in hospital.