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Parents of injured soccer player Danny Hodgson share heartbreaking birthday message as he turns 26

Daryna ZadvirnaThe West Australian
Danny Hodgson in hospital and with his partner Jess.
Camera IconDanny Hodgson in hospital and with his partner Jess. Credit: The West Australian/Supplied

LATEST: Danny Hodgson finally wakes from coma

The parents of Perth soccer player Danny Hodgson have sent a heartbreaking message to their son as he remains hospitalised for his 26th birthday.

Danny has been in Royal Perth Hospital for more than two weeks after being brutally bashed at Perth Train Station on September 5.

The critically ill soccer player was put in a coma, while a 15-year-old boy has been charged over the attack. While he has made some “small movements” since been in hospital, he remains in a critical but stable condition.

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Danny’s parents Nicola and Peter — who are in their last week of hotel quarantine after flying over from the UK — said while they couldn’t be with him today, they sent him their “healing power of love”.

Danny in action on the football field.
Camera IconDanny in action on the football field. Credit: The West Australian/Supplied

The couple shared a message to their son which read:

“Danny, on your 26th birthday, our gift to you is our belief in your courage, your strength, and the healing power of love,” they wrote.

“With the outpouring of love coming to you from (Danny’s girlfriend) Jess, family, friends, the football world, and the people of Western Australia, it won’t be long before you are back on the field.

“You’ve got this son. Love Mum and Dad. XX”

Mr and Mrs Hodgson say their son has overcome the odds before, after being born premature.

“The fierce love we have for Danny began the moment he entered the world – two weeks premature and weighing a tiny 2.3 kilos,” the couple said.

“As soon as he could walk, he was kicking a football.”

The couple told how Danny, who played for ECU Joondalup, was only five when we took him to his first training session with his local Under 8s team.

“He didn’t know anyone and stood nervously on the sidelines, not wanting to join in despite encouragement from the coach,” Mr Hodgson’s parents said.

“Eventually, with only minutes remaining, Danny ran on to the pitch, got the ball, dribbled around three players, and smashed it straight into the corner of the goal, stunning onlookers.“It wasn’t long before the professional teams were coming to watch him.

They told how they were “immensely proud” of his achievements both on and off the field.

“He is hard working, kind-hearted, funny, and quite simply a lovely young man,” they said.

Danny with his partner Jess.
Camera IconDanny with his partner Jess. Credit: The West Australian/Supplied

Danny’s girlfriend Jess said she has never felt more lost without him, despite keeping vigil at his bedside since the attack.

“But it is not the same as waking up every morning to the smiling, positive, happy soul I'm lucky to have every day,” she said.

“With hope, love and keeping positive, this will all be a bad dream soon and we can get on with making many more happy memories together."

The young soccer star had recently received the support of 76,000 fans at one of the game’s most famous grounds.

A capacity crowd had packed into Old Trafford to see Cristiano Ronaldo score a brace on his return to Manchester United, during which stadium announcer Alan Keegan called on the capacity crowd to cheer for Danny.

A GoFundMe page fundraiser has already attracted more than $120,000 from almost 2000 donors.

The donations are expected to cover the short and long-term financial costs related to the incident and will go towards his mortgage so his girlfriend does not have to worry about working.

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