This is the shocking image of a teenager left with a brain injury after an horrific attack.

Moshe Fuerst, 17, from Prestwich, was brutally assaulted and suffered a fractured skull at Bowker Vale Metrolink station.

He was one of four Orthodox Jewish boys beaten up by a gang of three youths.

And today his father, Michael, told the M.E.N. he believes the NHS saved his son’s life.

Mr Fuerst said: “My son was knocked out with one punch to the face. He went down and then he was kicked in the head.

“He suffered a bleed to the brain. He was intubated at North Manchester General Hospital and then put in an ambulance and taken to the neurosurgery specialist centre at Salford Royal.

(Image: Michael Fuerst)

“A soon as he arrived there he was operated on. At Crumpsall (North Manchester General) he was already slipping into a coma. I believe these men killed my son and the NHS brought him back to life.

“If this had happened 30 years ago I do not believe he would have survived. They would have killed him. If we did not now live in a high-tech society and have an NHS with the kind of neurology team they have at Salford he would not have made it.

“I believe the injury he had would have led to serious brain damage or death.

“Moshe and his friends are good boys. They would never go looking for trouble. They had been to the Printworks to see a film.

“They tried to run away from these lads and the altercation happened on the road below the station I believe.

“Moshe is getting a lot better. He is in ICU but he is conscious and he has talked to me and can move all of his limbs.

“You can never tell when you have had the trauma of a brain injury but we are hoping that he will make a full recovery.

“These lads were clearly out for a fight. They had clearly been out for the night ad they were apparently very drunk.”

The attack happened at 11.40pm on Saturday evening.

UPDATE: