An Ayrshire mum has issued a warning to parents after her son suffered a bleed on his liver in a horror skatepark injury.
Alice Mackie, 33, rushed out to Maybole skate park on Tuesday evening to find her boy Daniel crippled in pain. The 12-year-old had crashed off his scooter at the outdoor facility, bursting his lip and landing on his handle bars which caused a horrific internal injury.
Paramedics rushed the youngster to Crosshouse Hospital but he was soon transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow after medics found a laceration on his liver.
Daniel was kept in the hospital to be closely monitored after the bleed was found on the major organ.
Mum Alice fears the situation could have been much worse had Daniel not been wearing his helmet and knee-pads. She is now urging other mums and dads to ensure their children wear safety gear at skate parks.
Alice told Ayrshire Live: “Daniel had been out with his friends at the skatepark just after school. His friends then called to say that Daniel had suffered a really bad fall. He fell on top of his handle bars and gave himself a laceration on his liver which has caused a small bleed.
“They’ve had to keep him in the hospital for monitoring. I thought he’d maybe have broken his ribs, when I got there he was lying in pain. He’s normally really good at hiding it but he was really struggling and I knew something wasn’t right.
“I called the ambulance and they took him to Crosshouse before taking up to hospital in Glasgow. Daniel is really good at wearing all his safety gear, he’s got a helmet, knee pads and gloves.
“The way he fell, I dread to think what might have happened had he not had his helmet on.”
Alice says that Daniel had suffered another fall three weeks ago which left him with concussion. And she is worried that some youngsters are heading down to the skatepark without any protection.
She added: “A lot of them are going down without protective stuff on, it gives me such a fear that something really bad is going to happen. The skatepark is brand new and it's not weathered in yet. If it has been raining it gets quite slippy. It’s been a great thing for the town, it's brilliant what the council have done and the kids love it.
“But I just want to drum into parents that these things do happen – as much as no one likes to wear them, it’s important they do.”
A council spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with the young person and their family following this incident, however the skatepark has not been completed and is still being managed by the contractor.
“At present it is fenced off and is not open for use. We have asked the contractor who is still responsible for the facility, to check the heras fencing. The fencing will remain in place until the skatepark is ready for public use.”
Read next:
- Ayr cinema opening date unveiled as blockbusters back in town for Easter
- McDonald's announce plans for new £4 million restaurant in Ayrshire town
- 'I'm starving to death on NHS waiting list' Gran begs for surgery after cancelled ops
- Terminally ill nurse, 49, set to marry partner after devastating cancer diagnosis
- Post box to heaven launched by Ayrshire funeral directors in memory of precious tot
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines –sign up to our free daily newsletter
