Ferguson keeps vigil beside his gravely injured grandson's hospital bed

London, May 7 (ANI): Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson kept vigil beside his gravely injured grandson's hospital bed, as the kid fought back from the brink of death.

Ferguson clutched Charlie's hand and whispered words of support as the sedated ten-year-old recovered from a five-hour op to reduce brain swelling.

Ferguson, 67, was shaken to learn of the crash hours before his side's Champions League semi-final second leg clash with Arsenal.

Charlie, who dreams of one day playing for Sir Alex's Manchester United, was last night in a "serious" condition and faces more surgery today to repair his spine after shattering a neck vertebra. e is the stepson of Sir Alex's manager son Darren, 37, but both treasure him as "their own flesh and blood."

He suffered a catalogue of injuries, including a punctured lung and bowel damage, in a head-on car smash in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on Tuesday.

His mum Nadine Metcalfe - Darren's ex - broke both legs and was cut free with Charlie's sister Grace, six.

Charlie walked unaided when they reached Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Cheshire. But medics realised that he had severe internal bleeding only after he keeled over.

He was airlifted to Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital for surgery, The Sun reported.

Nadine was "stable" last night in Manchester's Wythenshawe Hospital. Grace, who had cuts, has been released from the hospital. (ANI)