THE family of a boy born severely disabled, after he was starved of oxygen during birth, has been awarded a £1.75million compensation package.

Kyle Burch, eight, suffers severe cerebral palsy, mental retardation, epilepsy, partial blindness and deafness, after his delivery was delayed at Colchester General Hospital.

A High Court deal has been reached, which will see his family awarded a lump sum of £1.75million, with annual payments rising to £152,000 within ten years to pay for Kyle’s care.

His mum, Tracy Burch, from Lawford, spoke of her terrifying experience in the hospital and urged people to keep asking questions about their treatment.

Kyle, described as “our star” by his dad, Danny Burch, was left severely disabled after being starved of oxygen when his birth was delayed by nearly five hours.

Colchester General Hospital has accepted partial liability for the health problems of Kyle, pictured, and sealed a compensation deal with the family yesterday.

Mrs Burch said she had “welled up” when the hospital’s lawyer apologised in court.

She said: “I knew then it was all finished. We have done the best we can as a family, but the money will make life so much easier.

“The payments will last as long as Kyle lives, and it’s nice to know he’ll always be provided for.”

Mrs Burch had been admitted to Harwich Hospital just after 11pm, on July 3, 2001.

Despite medical staff’s concerns about her baby’s condition, she was not transferred to Colchester until 3am the next day. Kyle was delivered at 8am.

He was transferred straight into the special care baby unit and then to Addenbrookes Hospital, in Cambridge.

Mrs Burch, 44, said Kyle was lucky to survive.

She said: “We didn’t really know what was going on until Kyle was born.

“The staff had seemed concerned and a bit flustered, but not overly so, and we had been wondering what was happening.

“It was all quite terrifying and I was in a state of shock for days after.”

Mrs Burch, who is Kyle’s full-time carer, described her son as “a lovely little man”. She said: “He’s so happy and cheerful and we wouldn’t change him for the world. He goes to Shorefields School, in Clacton, and is doing very well.

“Physically he’s been doing things doctors didn’t think he’d be able to, like doing commando crawls and standing unaided.

“He’s in plaster now, after he had a hip operation recently. His hips were dislocating from sitting in a wheelchair, and we hope he’ll get back on track.”

Mrs Burch said the family felt no bitterness towards the hospital. She added: “We felt angry at first, but you have to look forward. Kyle has been treated at the hospital several times. It has been good to towards us as a family.”

Mr and Mrs Burch, who live with Kyle, their seven-year-old daughter, Renee, and niece Summer, aged four, plan to buy a specially adapted house to meet their son’s needs.