15-year-old Christopher Junior Holmes, known as CJ, found himself in a devastating situation when a car involved in a late-night burnout session accidentally struck him, resulting in the amputation of his leg. The incident occurred on June 16 in Foxton, New Zealand, where CJ and a group of friends were gathered at Himatangi Block Rd.

In the early morning hours, CJ was filming a friend performing a burnout when the driver lost control of the vehicle. CJ attempted to move out of the way but tragically ended up in the path of the car’s towbar. The impact caused severe damage to CJ’s right leg, including a compound fracture, and severed muscles, nerves, and arteries.

Despite the horrific accident, CJ has shown incredible resilience and forgiveness towards the driver. “I have forgiven him and said, ‘You have to live with this your whole life so do the right thing and go to the police,'” CJ stated. Local police are currently investigating the incident, but no charges have yet been filed.

CJ’s mother, Amanda Carr, rushed to Palmerston North Hospital upon receiving the news. She described the extent of CJ’s injuries as shocking and initially struggled to grasp the severity of the situation. After attempts to restore blood flow to his limb failed, CJ was transferred to Lower Hutt Hospital, where his leg was amputated below the knee.

Through it all, CJ has remained remarkably positive and determined. He expressed his acceptance of the amputation, saying, “Just get it off. I will learn to walk again with a prosthetic – anything is possible.” He is already walking on crutches in the hospital and eager to return home, where he faces a long road to recovery.

Carr describes her son as a “stoic and brave” young man who possesses a remarkable tenacity. She is proud of his unwavering spirit and confident in his ability to overcome this challenge. “He’s a trooper, cool and calm, he’s treating this like nothing happened,” Carr shared.

CJ’s positive outlook extends to his future aspirations. He remains committed to pursuing his dream of becoming a mechanic, despite the loss of his leg. “The first thing I do when I leave is skid in a safe controlled environment,” he declared, emphasizing his determination to continue enjoying the activities he loves.

A Givealittle page has been set up to help CJ and his family with transportation and accommodation costs as he embarks on his journey to recovery.