AN 11-YEAR-OLD boy from Prestonpans who had to learn how to walk again after breaking his neck and fracturing his skull earlier this year has made his first visit home since his accident.

Max Gare was cycling in the car park of Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum when he fell from his bike and hit a metal pole.

A passer-by called an ambulance which rushed Max to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.

He was diagnosed with a fractured skull, broken neck and bleeding and swelling of the brain.

He has been receiving treatment in the hospital since May, spending two weeks in intensive care. He has also mostly been confined to his bed and was wearing a halo-style support system for three months.

Max has made significant progress in his recovery since then and made his first home visit since the accident at the start of September.

Despite this visit, he still has a long way to go with his recovery and will require a lot of therapy.

He is undergoing intensive physiotherapy in the hospital’s neurosurgery ward, which included learning how to walk again.

Since his accident, Max has been donated large sums of money from two local lodges to help with his recovery.

He received £1,000 from Lodge Thorntree 1038, based in Prestonpans.

Through the generosity of the Lodge and other donations it received, its master Pete Barrie was able to donate the money to Max’s mum Louise.

The money will be used to help Max in his recovery and adapt the family home to make it easier for Max to get about.

Max was also given £270 from Doogs Teviotdale, who is a member of Lodge Kajaki No.1848; its members meet in Tranent. The money will go towards Max’s rehabilitation treatment.