A horrified mother watched on as paramedics fought to save her 19-month-old son after he was allegedly accidentally run over by his own father.
Stelios Karsas was declared dead after being hit outside the Friends Fish and Chip Shop in Minsterley, Shropshire, just after 11am on Thursday.
Friends believe his Cypriot dad – also called Stelios – had reversed over him in his vehicle, a Hyundai Santa Fe.
An ambulance, three paramedic officers and an air ambulance rushed to the scene after members of the public desperately attempted to perform CPR.
Passers-by have now revealed how they desperately fought to save his life as his Filipino mother Mirasol watched on.
A horrified mother watched on as paramedics fought to save her son after he was allegedly knocked over by his father’s car. Pictured: Stelios Karsas and his father, also called Stelios
Tragedy: He is believed to be pictured in the Hyundai Santa Fe which knocked him down on a post on his mother Mirasol’s Instagram account last month
Stelios Karsas was declared dead after being hit outside the Friends Fish and Chip Shop in Minsterley, Shropshire, just after 11am on Thursday
Hero nursing home carer Simon Jones was passing the scene and tried to save Stelios’ life.
He and a colleagued performed CPR in a desperate attempt to keep him alive until an ambulance could arrive.
Simon said: ‘I deal with death and dying frequently but nothing can prepare you for what I saw that day. The child in question was only 19 months old.
‘When I arrived a colleague of mine was already there. Her husband waved me over and suddenly I saw the little boy lying on his side with his mouth full of blood.
‘I turned him with my colleague’s assistance slightly more on his side to clear his airway. Another lady behind me was on the phone to the ambulance operator, who told us we had to start CPR.
‘My colleague assisted by doing the compressions while I concentrated on the breaths, and we did this until the ambulance arrived.
‘His mum was there and as far as I am aware they owned the chip shop the little man was lying outside. She was in bits but once we started CPR everything else became background noise.
‘It made me feel useless in all truth. I’m properly broken and I can’t close my eyes without seeing his face.
‘He had the eyes of an angle and I’m so sorry I couldn’t do more. I’ll always think of him even though I never knew him.
‘The emergency services were fantastic and responded so quickly, and I have to thank the three people there helping me. I’m gutted the outcome wasn’t a different one.’
Stelios is believed to be pictured in the Hyundai Santa Fe which knocked him down on a post on his mother’s Instagram account last month.
His parents, who have been married for four years, were at home last night with their other two daughters.
Mirasol said: ‘We don’t want to say anything – it is an incredibly tough time.’
Tributes are pictured outside the Friends Fish and Chip Shop in Minsterley, Shropshire
Floral tributes were left at the scene. One card read: ‘We didn’t have the pleasure of meeting you and your family little man but we are deeply saddened by this tragic event. Fly high with the angels little one’
A nearby church, Holy Trinity, Minsterley, left a tribute for little Stelios outside the fish and chip shop inviting people to light a candle to remember him
A family friend added: ‘Stelios hit his baby in the car. He needs our help now.
‘I’ve spoken to Mirasol to comfort her today because she cannot accept what has happened.
‘It is hard to explain what her husband is going through.
Floral tributes have been placed at the scene, where the local Methodist church has invited people to light a candle of remembrance for the child.
Writing on Facebook, The Reverend Pam Bickley of Holy Trinity Church, Minsterly said: ‘If you would like to light a candle in memory of Stelios, the little boy killed yesterday in Minsterley, Holy Trinity Minsterley is open all day today and tomorrow.
‘Please pray for his family. Rest in peace little one. God bless.’
West Mercia Police are appealing for witnesses and have not yet confirmed the circumstances surrounding the collision.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service added: ‘When crews arrived they found a boy in cardiac arrest being given CPR by members of the public following a collision with a car.
‘Ambulance staff quickly took over resuscitation efforts on scene and continued advanced life support as a team.
‘Tragically, nothing could be done to save the boy and he was confirmed dead at scene.’
Family friend Maria Downes said she was driving along the road and witnessed the aftermath of the tragedy.
She added: ‘I was a couple of seconds behind the accident, I didn’t see it actually happen.
‘I was two cars behind and saw the aftermath of it, a lot of people rushed over to try and help – it’s incredibly upsetting and tragic.
‘It was not a hit and run. It wasn’t a driver speeding -it’s much more tragic than what’s been originally said.
‘I can’t say anything about it, but for those reasons it’s more devastating than people think.’
Another tribute reads: ‘Such a little man. Sweet dreams forever xxx’ after the death of the 19-month-old outside the restaurant yesterday morning
Ms Downes earlier wrote on Facebook: ‘So absolutely devastating to be in Minsterley today, thinking of the family of that beautiful boy.
‘I was only with him a few days ago, I don’t think I will ever be able to go to Minsterley again with what’s stuck in my head.
‘I have to say this though, the whole village came together today [Thursday] bless you all for staying strong, acting fast and just being there to lend a hand if it was needed.
‘I am so devastated for them all and to all the police, fire service, air ambulance, paramedics, you deserve a big hug.’
‘He was by the chippy where his dad owned.
‘I think the family have paid the ultimate price really and that will be forever haunting those involves, it’s not about blame now, it’s a bout a young child’s death and a broken family x’
A mother-of-two, who lived nearby, added: ‘My daughter’s boyfriend was here for the aftermath, and claims that the boy’s dad was the one that hit him.
‘He [the dad] was absolutely devastated apparently, which is what you’d expect.
‘My neighbour also told me that it was the dad that was the driver, but like I say, I didn’t see it.’
Pictured: A line of bouquets are pictured outside the Friends Fish and Chip Shop
An ambulance, three paramedic officers and an air ambulance rushed to the scene after members of the public desperately attempted to perform CPR
An elderly neighbour said they heard a scream, which they originally assumed was a woman.
They said: ‘I heard a scream, and originally I thought that it was a woman crying out for help.
‘Of course I later learned that it was a young boy.
‘There was a car that was parked up by the accident, which people were surrounding.
‘I think it was the car that belongs to the restaurant owner, because it’s parked there all the time.’
Francesca Bromley put: ‘Puts it into perspective to cherish your children.
‘So so sad before xmas he had his whole life ahead of him. Poor boy and poor family.’