THE FRIENDS and family of a 19-year-old who lost his leg in a road accident are boycotting their scooters in an act of solidarity.

Wayne Hall, of Challin Street, Penge, was riding his Gilera moped on the night of May 28 when he was involved in an accident with a red Ford Fiesta.

Wayne's right leg was nearly severed in the collision which occurred at the junction of Maple Road and Graveney Road, Penge.

The former Kelsey Park Sports College student was rushed to the Mayday Hospital, Croydon, and later transferred to St George's Hospital, Tooting, where surgeons battled to save his leg.

Sadly, during an eight-hour operation, they were forced to amputate Wayne's right leg just below the knee.

Wayne had been warned he could lose his leg and said: "I saw the state my leg was in. It was twisted 90 degrees and when they twisted it back I couldn't feel anything.

"My dad said he was waiting for me to scream but I didn't flinch."

The tragedy comes just two months after Wayne's school friend, Stuart May, 19, was killed after he collided with a lamppost while riding his motorbike in Chislehurst.

Wayne said: "I count myself lucky to be here with just the injuries I got.

"I do have days when I think why did it have to happen to me?

"But I've got to think of people who are in a worse state than I am and they can get through it."

Now Wayne's 18-year-old brother Colin and three other friends are selling their own scooters and are planning to raise funds for Wayne's rehabilitation.

Colin, who has an identical bike to his brother, said: "I don't even want to ride it any more.

"I can't put my mum through what has happened to Wayne and I don't want to rub his nose in it.

"Me and my friends are making a point. Bikes are dangerous."

Wayne's mother Alison, says she has been overwhelmed by the support her son is receiving.

The 42-year-old said: "I have never known anything like it, his friends have been rallying around and he's had so many visitors."

Of the night of the accident, Mrs Hall said: "Wayne's bike is loud, so he started it at the top of the street.

"The next thing I heard was something like the sound of scaffolding falling down and then a deathly silence."

A friend of Wayne's then knocked on the door to tell Mrs Hall her son had been seriously injured.

The part-time shop worker said: "I just ran down the street in my pyjamas and I saw him, lying on the ground surrounded by people.

"It looked to me like he had broken his ankle.

"He was murmuring please, let me go to sleep, my leg hurts'.

"On the way to hospital he said the top of his leg was really hurting, so the crew started cutting his clothes away to relieve the pressure."

After arriving at hospital, Wayne was met by four doctors who examined his injuries.

That night he was transferred to St George's Hospital, Tooting, where surgeons operated.

Mrs Hall added: "It is heartbreaking to see him like this.

"We have got a long road ahead of us but he is being so brave."

Doctors estimate Wayne could be in hospital for anything between two weeks and three months and are already discussing the possibility of a false leg.

The former pizza delivery boy says he is determined to be well enough to go on holiday to Camber Sands in August.

By Sara Nelson and Helen Backway