A DISTRAUGHT father is offering a £5,000 reward in the hope of discovering what caused his 13-year-old son to end up brain damaged and wheelchair bound.

David Luckett, of Sampford Brett, said son Ashley’s life had been destroyed after he suffered a violent seizure last year.

He said the young horse-riding and karting enthusiast, then aged 12, complained that he had been tripped by a group of fellow pupils at Danesfield Middle School in Williton on July 1.

Three days later, Ashley had a fit while taking a bath and fell under the water. David broke down the bathroom door, pulled Ashley’s submerged body from the water and resuscitated him.

David believes the alleged incident on July 1 was responsible for Ashley’s condition but Ian Bradbury, the school’s head teacher, said there was no evidence to support his claim.

David, 52, said: “I feel he has been robbed of his life and I have been robbed of a healthy boy. I am very angry and bitter about this because I feel something untoward has happened.

“I hope the money will make people come forward and give me the answers I need.”

Ashley spent six days in a coma at Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital before being transferred to Bristol Royal Infirmary’s intensive care unit for eight weeks.

He was later moved to Frenchay in Bristol from where he was discharged on April 19 after nine months in hospital.

Doctors are baffled by what triggered Ashley’s seizure, although a banged head has not been ruled out.

Ashley now attends Penrose School in Bridgwater, a specialist school for pupils with ‘complex additional needs’.

David said: “Doctors don’t know how far he will recover. He can’t speak or walk and needs round-the-clock care.

“This has ruined his life and mine.”

A police spokesman said: “We received a complaint on May 15 and the incident has been looked into and reports submitted. There is no criminal investigation ongoing at this time.”

Mr Bradbury, who said the school acted “appropriately and professionally” to David’s claims, said: “Sadly we are unable to give Mr Luckett any reason because there aren’t any — not that we know of.”