Tony Hudgell 'over the moon' with shirt from David Beckham
A 10-year-old boy who had both legs amputated after being abused as a baby has been gifted a signed football shirt by David Beckham.Tony Hudgell was given an Inter Miami shirt from Beckham, who co-owns the US club, with Tony's mother Paula saying the England legend had been "quietly following his journey".Mrs Hudgell, from West Malling in Kent, said the gesture was "really lovely" and Tony was "absolutely blown away" having received the shirt.She added: "There was a little card as well which said 'keep doing what you are doing'".
Mrs Hudgell said Tony was "absolutely over the moon" and described Beckham as "such a lovely guy and really generous".The Tony Hudgell Foundation said on X the gift had come after a "tough week" where the parole board confirmed Tony's birth mother Jody Simpson would be released from prison.
Simpson was given a 10 year prison sentence in 2018 alongside Anthony Smith having been found guilty of causing Tony's near-fatal injuries.The pair were found to have hurt him so badly at six-weeks-old that his legs had to be amputated.Tony was later adopted by Paula and Mark Hudgell and has since raised millions of pounds for charity and received the British Empire Medal for services to the prevention of child abuse.In 2024, he underwent surgery to be fitted for new prosthetics to allow him to walk without crutches.Beckham, who is also a co-owner of Salford City, is set to be knighted in King Charles' birthday honours.
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