Police inquiry as boy's leg broken at Beverley Grammar School

A POLICE investigation has been launched after a 12-year-old boy broke his leg in three places during a lunch period at school.

Leila Goring, 33, claims her son Declan was injured when an older boy barged into him as he walked across the playing fields at Beverley Grammar School – just two days before the school broke up for the summer holidays.

An ambulance was called and Declan had to undergo a four-hour operation. He might not be able to walk for six months.

The school say an investigation is underway and refused to comment further.

A Humberside Police spokeswoman also said they are investigating the matter.

Miss Goring, of Beverley, said her son suffered a broken femur – the thigh bone between the hip and the knee joints.

She said: "It's one of the strongest bones in the body, so I don't know how it has happened.

"The injury has ruined the summer holiday for the family – particularly Declan.

"He was kept in Hull Royal Infirmary for two weeks. It was originally meant to be a two-hour operation, but it ended up taking four hours because it was a lot more complicated than first expected.

"I have had to move his bed downstairs as he wasn't able to move around.

"Now he can move the short distance to the toilet, but he needs a Zimmer frame."

The break came just two days before Declan completed his first year at Beverley Grammar School.

Miss Goring said: "I think it is going to have an effect on the rest of his life.

"Declan said he could deal with the pain of his injuries, but the hardest thing has been being stuck in the house all the summer holiday.

"He's just completed his first year at secondary school and has made new friends and on their first summer he has been stuck in bed.

"All this, when the person who caused the injuries has been able to enjoy his summer holidays."

Miss Goring, a supply teacher, said they had received a card from the school, but have been disappointed by the lack of any other information about what happened.

Beverley Grammar School, which is an academy, has said it will not comment, other than to say an investigation is under way.

She said: "The school has been quite elusive about any details. I think the school believe it was an accident.

"The first I heard about it was when I had a phone call from the school saying they were thinking of calling an ambulance for Declan as he said he couldn't move.

"I expected to arrive at the school to see him with a dead leg – nothing as serious as what had happened.

"It was very traumatic and the pain must have been excruciating. It took more than half a dozen teachers to get him off the field.

"The ambulance struggled to reach him because it happened at the top field at Beverley Grammar and it was quite muddy."

Speaking on his current condition, Miss Goring said: "He is currently going to physiotherapy and going for X-rays every couple of weeks.

"I have been in touch with the school about organising tuition, but it could be another three weeks before anything happens.

"Luckily, he is only starting Year 8 this year, so it is not his GCSE year. But every year counts.

"In terms of the future, I think it will be a year before he can play any sport again.

"We have also been warned there could be complications in the future.

"One of his legs may be longer than the other and there will be further operations."

A Humberside Police spokeswoman said: "Unfortunately, due to the six-week school summer holiday, the investigation has been quite slow as it has been very difficult to speak to the school.

"However, statements have been taken from the injured boy and inquiries are ongoing to establish what happened."