Afghanistan refugee wins scholarship to Eton There were people getting killed for almost no reason. Every day we were afraid. His father, who held a respected job as a civil engineer designing roads, decided they had to leave. They almost didn't make it. Their path led through Russia and at one point they had to get across a river in a leaking rubber dinghy. He said: "My mum was scared we were going to sink. She put her hand on the hole. I was really scared. After that we had to wait for a van and the van broke down so we had to go through a forest. There were wolves and dogs, everybody was just so scared. He lost his parents, but they were eventually reunited: "I was crying when I did find them. I wouldn't let my dad go," he recalled. Their new life in Hull was definitely safer and he enjoyed school although out of school, he did experience racism. At one point the family decided to go to Birmingham where they had friends, but the children could not settle. Rohid took matters into his own hands when he was just 10-years-old by ringing his head teacher to see if they could return to Hull. Brian Roberts, the head teacher of Adelaide Primary School where Rohid started when he was about five, recalled: "I was working in my office late when I got a call from Rohid. He was only 10 at the time. He said, 'Mr Roberts we are really unhappy. If we come back to Hull would it be possible to come back to your school? I said I was sure it was a strong possibility. After a few months he did come back to school and he soon settled back in. It doesn't surprise me that he is going on to greater things, because he had that vision of where he was going in life. Sport was a confidence booster for the quietly-spoken youngster - even though when he started rugby at Pickering High School, the precursor to Sirius, he says he couldn't catch a ball, let alone tackle. His ability bought him to the attention of both Hull KR and Hull FC, who offered him a scholarship. He signed up for a year with Hull KR, but a shoulder injury put paid to his nascent career. Undeterred, the youngster, who also holds the triple jump record at his school, took up kick-boxing. He enjoyed a session on the first night at Eton, where he underwent four days of gruelling tests and interviews. Adam Rust, leader of the sixth form at Sirius, said Rohid, who will don a waistcoat and tails at the world-famous school in September, was a pleasure to teach: "He is one of the most appreciative lads I have ever met. I think he is quite level-headed - most kids would crumble with a four-day interview. He is as comfortable having a laugh with friends as having his head down in class. Children's services portfolio holder Helene O'Mullane said she hoped his success would inspire other students and wished him continued success.