An 11-year-old boy is pleading for a heartless hit and run driver to come forward after he was knocked off his bike and left for dead on his way home from school.

Suhas Sunkisala was struck while cycling through a pedestrian crossing along Railway Parade in Murrumbeena on May 1.

“I was heading towards the zebra crossing then I saw a car slow down at the speed breaker and then I crossed at the zebra crossing and the car sped up and it hit me,” Suhas said.

“I was in shock so the pain didn’t hit me too much when I was flying through the air [but] when I hit the ground I felt it.”

An off-duty nurse rushed to his aid and he was sent to hospital suffering a severely broken ankle and cuts and bruises to his face.

Police are hunting for a silver Toyota Yaris hatchback, which they say could be damaged and missing its driver-side mirror due to the crash.

“It’s a tragic event. The disturbing part is that the driver didn’t stop,” Inspector Samantha Ferwerda said.

“I find it difficult to understand how they didn’t know they struck a child … the longer they leave it the more difficult it is for them.”

The year 6 student spent two nights at the Royal Children’s Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery on his leg.

“It was stinging really badly, the bone did come out, it was a compound fracture so yeah,” Suhas said.

The student won’t be able to walk for the next six weeks, forced to take a break from his love of basketball, cricket and skiing.

Anyone who can identify the vehicle or the driver is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.