By Sarah Robinson

Last updated at 11:32, Thursday, 21 June 2012

THE shocked family of a 10-year-old who had a metal peg embedded in his skull – narrowly missing his spinal cord – have spoken of their trauma.

Declan Clark: ‘It’s going to take a long time for him to recover’

Speaking to The Whitehaven News, Declan Clark’s family thanked emergency services for saving his life following the accident.

Declan was hit by the large peg while he was playing with his friends on an embankment above Whitehaven skate park at Bransty on Sunday afternoon. It missed his spinal cord by just a centimetre.

He was flown by the North West Air Ambulance to the Royal Preston Hospital following a major rescue operation. Since then Declan has been treated at the intensive care unit at Manchester Children’s Hospital, and is soon to be moved on to a ward.

He is stable and making good progress but currently has some loss of vision and memory loss.

His mother, Susan, has been by his side in hospital since Sunday. Paul Chambers, Susan’s partner, said: “We would like to thank all the rescue teams involved. They were marvellous. We also want to thank Jamie, Sam, Caitlin, Diane and Graham for their help with the rescue.”

The police said it was a “tragic accident” and no further action is being taken.

A spokesperson said: “A group of children were playing on the steep bank, which is loose and is being stabilised by hessian sheets held in place by large steel pegs.

“Several of the pegs were pulled out of the ground and were being thrown about when one of the pegs struck Declan in the back of the head and penetrated his skull. The nature of the injury was such that had the bar been in deeper or slightly in a different position it may have proved fatal.”

The police added: “We would take this opportunity to ask parents to remind their children of the consequences of throwing large, heavy items at each other. Whilst the children may think they are playing and having fun, the consequences can be very serious and in some cases fatal.”

Paul said Declan had been playing with friends and they had been on scooters before the accident. He said a metal bar had been thrown from a higher point of the embankment, hitting Declan in his skull.

One of the young people at the scene contacted emergency services and a major rescue operation was carried out.

Paul said: “I went up to the embankment and I could see Declan. My legs gave way, but I managed to pull it together and go to him. He was very coherent – he was answering all the questions that the rescue teams were asking him. He was crying and asking for me and Susan.

“Declan’s had the bar taken out. He is better than he was but he’s still not out of the woods. It has been a stressful few days – we have hardly slept or eaten.

“He has been a very lucky boy. It’s going to take a long time for him to recover. He is talking now and he’s eating again.”

Paul said it will be a slow recovery for Declan, who attends Bransty School and is set to start Whitehaven School in September.

Adrian Holmes, of Whitehaven fire service, said: “It was a challenging rescue, but we worked with the ambulance services, the police and the coastguards to move the boy from the embankment to the air ambulance.”

A spokesperson for the ambulance service said Declan was conscious throughout and was given morphine to ease the pain.

The embankment is owned and maintained by Copeland Council. Pat Graham, director of services for Copeland, said: “We were saddened to hear of the incident at the weekend, which we understand was a dreadful accident amongst two friends. We have been advised that, although dreadful, this is now neither a police nor council matter. Our thoughts are with the families of all involved.”

First published at 11:12, Thursday, 21 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk