A GROUP of men supporting their friend who had been left blind following a horrific car accident have found their "boys night out" has gone viral.

The University of Worcester Physical Education students said the response had been "surreal" after details of their trip on Sunday to Bowl Xtreme, off Droitwich Road, were shared hundreds of thousands of times.

Sip Gallagher had been playing in the lane next to the group when she posted: "Currently at Bowl Xtreme in Worcester where we're bowling next to a group of 7 lads who are all bowling blindfolded, thought it was quite bizarre until we realised the one lad wasn't wearing a blind fold.

"Turns out the one dude is blind and to make the game fair they're all bowling without being able to see what they're doing. Really melted my heart! Total respect!"

Her post was picked up by popular Facebook group LAD Bible and your Worcester News leading to the group, Mohammed Tariq, Jeevan Sidhu, Carl Mcloughlin, Ryan Upson, Jack Goodchild, Joshua Smith and Tom Heritage to be identified.

Josh, Ryan and Tom, from Worcester, Jeevan, from Birmingham, Carl, from Stourbridge, and Jack from Gloucester, were all supporting their friend who had lost his sight after a car crash on Walsall Road, Great Barr in April.

Mr Tariq, from Birmingham, said: "I woke up this morning to over 60,000 likes on Facebook and it has all gotten a bit out of hand.

"We didn't expect this to happen at all, it was just a lads night out but it has really blown up."

The 21-year-old said his friend's support had been incredible following the life-changing crash.

"Normally on a Bank Holiday we would go out clubbing but because I have a broken leg and I can't see we decided to do something different.

"We had the idea to play blindfolded but we forgot to bring one so we had to use a tea towel instead.

"My friends have been absolutely amazing. I was in hospital for nine weeks at the Queen Elizabeth and they would come every week to support me.

"I can't thank them enough for what they have done for me."

As well as losing his sight, Mr Tariq suffered multiple broken bones, collapsed lungs and was in a coma with doctors initially saying he had only 24 hours to live.

But he has made an amazing recovery beating doctors later prediction he would be hospitalised for six months by being discharged after nine weeks.

He will be returning to start his final year at university and his job as a shift manager at McDonald's.

"The lads have stood by me all the way through.

"The first time they came to the hospital they were in tears.

"It's freshers' week next week and we've got activities planned - we're going to play blind footgolf and maybe go-karting too.

"It was difficult but I can do everything for myself now but the first few weeks were horrible - there was constant tears.

"The response to our night out has been incredible."

Talking about their night out, Joshua Smith, aged 21 and from Barbourne, said: "We decided to do it because he's been one of our best friends through uni so he is part of our group of boys and we always try do stuff together as a group leaving no one out.

"With what happened to Mo, we didn't want to exclude him from joining in so we do what we can to get him involved with us.

"When we went bowling we decided to do it blindfolded so that all of us as a group were on a level playing field and to see how hard it is not being able to see.

"It really brought us together as a group as we had to trust each other and for Mo to be equal with us all - it was a great laugh.

"Mo is one of the kindest and best people I've ever known and the strength he has shown over the past few months and seeing how much he has come on has been a real pleasure to see.

"Its amazing, he's so strong."

And it looks like the group will be back at the bowling alley soon with Bowl Xtreme offering a free unlimited game.

General manager Alan Mason said it had been amazing to see the friends in action.

"I have never seen anything like it before.

"We were very busy that night, it was full.

"They came in and spoke to us and asked if they could have the bumpers up because their friend was blind as we don't usually have them on our X ticket nights.

"Next thing I know people are saying "Look at them" and watching them - it was just amazing.

"I've never seen anyone do something like that before - they just wanted to make it a fair game.

"It's just amazing, they're lovely lads."