Boy, 14, hospitalised after being attacked in Chard park

Zachary Scriven, 14, from Yeovil, was attacked and partially filmed at Jocelyn Park at around 3pm on Saturday, July 4 while visiting the town to see his grandparents and a friend.

According to his mother, Natalie Scriven, and the video footage - which the team at the County Gazette has seen - a group of teenage boys repeatedly kicked, hit, punched and strangled Zachary.

Ms Scriven said: "They got him on the floor and strangled him, and he lost consciousness.

"He came back around and went to leg it, and they tackled him to the floor and did it again, and kicked him on the head and in the back.

"I am not one of these mums who is going to let this slide.

"They nearly killed my son."

According to Ms Scriven, Zachary has been left with a hairline fracture on his wrist, bruising, and damage to his throat.

She added: "They stamped on his wrist, and currently, he is having to use a splint."

Ms Scriven also said she has had to take him to the hospital twice and is due to bring him back a third time soon.

She said: "He is still healing now. He is still in pain. He is struggling to swallow because they squeezed his Adam’s apple so hard they could have crushed it."

Ms Scriven and other community members are now speaking out against the violence on social media platforms.

Ms Scriven said: "It’s dangerous. I am going to fight this.

"Those kids need punishing. It’s not normal behaviour."

Another member of Zachary's family said: "This incident has caused irreversible trauma to our family, and we are deeply saddened by what we feel has been a lack of meaningful action and support following such a serious attack.

"We hope that by raising awareness of Zachary’s case, it encourages schools, the police and the wider community to take incidents like this more seriously, helping to prevent other children and families from experiencing the same trauma that we have.

"I also hope the perpetrators realise the consequences of their actions."

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by Tracey Banks to support the teenager and his family as he recovers.

To support the fundraiser, click here.

Ms Banks said: "I saw the footage that has been shared, and I have had my own experiences with bullying, both as a parent and as a child myself, but more prominently as a parent, I was so deeply saddened to see such violence between children.

"So, I reached out [to his family] suggesting a GoFundMe to do something nice for him, and she said at the time she would love me to set it up, so I did."

So far, the fundraiser has raised £925 of its £1,000 target and is to support Zachary, who loves superheroes and comics, in attending a Comic Con event – something he is really excited about.

Ms Banks added: "To see such violence and his poor little face, they are just young kids.

"I think we need to get some awareness out, and schools need to start having anti-bullying days where they speak to children about the consequences.

"It just doesn’t ever seem to end, and it seems to be getting more violent, so schools need to do more, and parents as well.

"You need to teach your kids to be kind, and how kids can end up enjoying being violent like that is really concerning.

"That is why I stepped in.

"I was able to empathise with what had happened, and I wanted to do something nice for Zach to show that the community do care and there are still nice people."

Ms Banks said that if the fundraiser exceeded its target, she would also love to help Zach and his family enjoy a holiday, giving them a chance to make happier memories.

She said: "A massive thank you to everyone who has donated."

Avon and Somerset Police has confirmed that, as of 10am on Tuesday, July 21, it is investigating this incident and enquiries are ongoing.