Family's Desperate Plea After Son Suffers Serious Head Injuries in Hit-and-Run
The father of a man left with severe head injuries in a suspected hit-and-run crash has issued a heartfelt appeal for information. Ian Perry, aged 39, was discovered with a significant head wound on Slade Road in Stockland Green just after 6am on Sunday, April 12.
West Midlands Police are treating the incident as a hit-and-run, but his father, who shares the same name, has suggested his son may have been attacked. The elder Mr Perry, 59, explained that his son lived in the Slade Road area and was visiting his girlfriend at the time of the incident.
Family Maintains Vigil at Hospital
Ian's family has been keeping a constant vigil at his bedside in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, anxiously waiting for his condition to improve. Mr Perry, a father-of-six from Darlaston, described the shocking moment he learned about his son's injuries.
"I had been working on Sunday afternoon when my daughter got in touch and said Ian was in the QE and in a bad way," he recalled. "The news was like being hit with a brick. The hospital said there was pressure on his brain and they were going to operate, which they did that evening."
He added that the operation went well, but Ian's recovery has been slow. After a scan on Monday, doctors reduced his medication to see if he would wake up. "He did for 30 seconds and there was no response. The doctors tried to wake him again and he reared up for a short while," Mr Perry said. "My daughters were saying 'squeeze my hand' but there was no response. It's a waiting game."
Uncertainty Surrounds the Incident
Ian suffered a laceration on the side of his head, with swollen eyes due to brain swelling. Mr Perry, who works as a driver, believes his son might have been attacked with a sharp instrument but admitted, "we don't know." He emphasized the urgency of finding the perpetrator, regardless of the exact circumstances.
"Whether it's a hit-and-run or attack, this person needs catching. I want to say if anybody saw anything please come forward," he pleaded. "Ian is happy-go-lucky and doesn't go out drinking. He gets on with most people."
Police Investigation Ongoing
West Midlands Police confirmed they are continuing their investigation into the incident. A spokesperson stated, "We are keeping an open mind as to what happened and this incident has now been transferred to our Serious Collision Investigation Unit who are carrying out a thorough investigation."
Authorities are appealing for anyone with information or CCTV footage to come forward. They can contact the police by calling 101 and quoting log number 658 of April 12, or email the Serious Collision Investigation Unit directly.
The community is urged to assist in bringing clarity to this distressing event, as Ian's family remains hopeful for his recovery and justice.
