A teenager who was sent flying through the air when a van was ‘deliberately’ driven at a group of friends has spoken of the injuries he suffered.

Martin and Shaun Breeze are charged with the murder of Brian Darby after he suffered fatal injuries when he was mowed down by their van, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Three other members of the group suffered significant injuries, including the teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons, as a result of the alleged incident in February.

Brian DarbyBrian Darby

In video recorded police interview, the teenager told how he had potentially saved the life of one of the alleged victims, Brandon Jordan, after he cleared the unconscious man’s airway by moving his tongue out of his throat.

“I saw him get hit in the back, he was facing away from the van. It looked like his soul left him, he went limp on the car and he went flying,” he said.

“I went straight over because I heard him choking on his tongue. I put him on his side thinking he was choking on vomit or blood but realised he wasn’t.

“I pulled open his jaw and used my finger to move his tongue so that he could actually breathe.

“If I hadn’t have done that, I don’t know whether he would still be here or not.”

A photograph from the scene of the alleged murderA photograph from the scene of the alleged murder (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

Describing his own injuries, he said: “Both my knees have been cut. The bone in my wrist has been bent but I can still move it with a lot of pain and there’s a lump on that wrist.

“Two of ribs were fractured and my elbow and knuckles were bruised and cut.

“I had nine staples in my head. Blood was coming out of my head quite a lot.”

Kelly Jordan, who also suffered life-changing injuries, told police in her video recorded interview that she had little recollection of the night due to the trauma and medication she was on while in hospital.

Officers working at the scene where Brian Darby died following a fatal collisionOfficers working at the scene where Brian Darby died following a fatal collision (Image: TERRY BLACKBURN)

She said: “I remember a lad banging into me and shouting. Hand on heart that’s all I remember.

“The next thing I remember being in the back of the ambulance. I remember Brandon (her son) getting upset and being in the hospital.”

Earlier in the trial, jurors heard how alleged murder happened minutes after an innocuous confrontation between Shaun Breeze and the group of friends as they walked home from the pub.

The group were allegedly deliberately mowed down by a father and son in a van as the pair are accused of carrying out a ‘revenge’ hit-and-run which resulted in 60-year-old Mr Darby being carried 150m on the bonnet of their van.

The Ingleby Barwick grandad died after an incident was reported in the Myton Way/Rings area of the town, near Stockton, on Friday, February 9, at around 9.30pm.

Martin Breeze, 57, of Irthing Close, Ingleby Barwick has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges.

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He denied the murder of Mr Darby, the manslaughter of Mr Darby, four charges of attempted murder, four charges of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

Shaun Breeze, 29, of Owls Grove, Ingleby Barwick, has also pleaded not guilty to the same set of charges.

The father and son are also charged with an additional offence of perverting the course of justice, which they both deny, after reporting the van stolen to police.

The trial continues.