Mother's appeal for skateboarders to wear helmets goes viral

A video made by a devastated mother appealing for skateboarders to wear helmets has gone viral with more than one million people watching it.

Georgia Fairthorne, 19, suffered serious head injuries when she fell from a skateboard while visiting family in Wales.

The teenager, from Bournemouth, Dorset, has been in an induced coma at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff since last Friday's accident and has since undergone brain surgery.

Her mother, Emma Fairthorne, recorded the video outside the hospital and posted it on Facebook.

She urged parents to "just take care" and ensure their children wore helmets.

"It's the summer holidays and I know it's not cool to wear a helmet," she said.

"We didn't have one that fitted Georgia but I just didn't think. She didn't go down a massive hill.

"I wish as a mum that I had provided her with a helmet. I'm just praying the best possible outcome happens for her.

"I don't know what quality of life she is going to have, if she makes it through the next few days, my beautiful, beautiful girl.

"It should have been a broken ankle or wrist or a few cuts and scrapes but not brain surgery and intensive care.

"Please guys, please, just take care. Take care of your kids and get them a helmet when they are on their scooters and skateboards because it only took one second."

In a further update on Wednesday, Ms Fairthorne said her daughter was "stable and comfortable".