'He could have been killed' — family's anger after boy badly injured by wall collapse
A six-year-old boy was seriously injured when a wall collapsed in Newburgh.
Darren manages to put a brave face on things after being injured by the collapsed wall.
- By Aileen Robertson
- Published in the Courier : 17.10.11
- Published online : 17.10.11 @ 08.35am
Darren Brown underwent surgery at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after a falling rock from the structure crushed his leg.
His mother Kerry (34) said the rock tore through muscle tissue exposing bone and her son had been left traumatised by the incident.
The accident happened on Tuesday last week while Darren was playing at a park near the family home in Whitecraig Road.
Mrs Brown said: ''He had an operation on Wednesday and he's on the mend but he's going to be off school for a while and now and again he gets upset because he has wee flashbacks about the wall falling on him.
''The rock went right through his muscle to the bone. If it had landed another way it could have taken his leg off or he could have been killed.
''He was taken firstly to the GP in Newburgh, who had to bandage the wound. We then had to take him by car to Perth Royal Infirmary.
''At PRI they did not have a senior doctor so all they could do was take X-rays. After waiting for around two hours they organised an emergency ambulance to take him to Ninewells Hospital where he was admitted to the children's ward.
''He then had to wait until Wednesday morning when he had an operation to mend his leg. My son went through a severe trauma from start to finish. He is unable to bend his leg and is currently on crutches and will be for some time. He will miss school for a while.
''He loves the outdoors and school activities so this has been a massive blow to him, and of course a major upset to all the family.''
Darren's parents believe Fife Council is responsible for maintaining the wall and have written to complain. Last week, the council publicised the fact the retaining wall had collapsed, and that as a result the path between Hill Road and Guthrie Court that runs alongside it had been closed. But no mention was made of Darren's injuries.
'Neglect'
Mrs Brown criticised the council for publicising the collapse without revealing that someone had been badly hurt.
''I've already put a letter into the council and am giving them 14 days to respond. I'm hoping they will admit liability for the wall collapsing. If my son had been inches the other way it could have been fatal.
''I also feel that it is sad that my son had to go through all this because of the council's neglect and they cannot even mention the fact that someone was hurt — anything to safeguard themselves.''
Local councillor David MacDiarmid said he would speak to the council's transport service today.
He said: ''I hope the boy makes a full recovery and is up and about very soon. I know this wall is very close to a children's playpark.
''I can't help feeling that the situation we are in today could have had a much more serious outcome. I will liaise with Fife Council transportation services on Monday to find an acceptable and safe way ahead.''
Since the incident, the area has been fenced off.
A spokeswoman for Fife Council said: ''A detailed inspection of the wall will be carried out by a Fife Council engineer as soon as possible. In the meantime the steep ground has been fenced off as far as possible and signs have been erected advising the public to keep out. Access to existing properties will be maintained via Hill Road or Guthrie Gardens.''
10.24am - 17.10.2011 Bob - dundee, Scotland Report This
How weary. The 'someone to blame' culture. Every wall in the world can't be guaranteed not to fail. It's impossible to guarantee this. When I was a kid the headline would have been ' child has lucky escape ' with smiling mum and dad and kid in photo. Hope the lad gets better soon.
02.05pm - 17.10.2011 Live from the Capital - Edinburgh, Scotland Report This
Agree with Bob on this one. I had a similar accident when i was about 5, plank of wood tore through my ankle, exposing bone and muscle. Did my parents want to sue the builders for making it so easy to get on the building site? No, I got a thick ear and grounded for being so silly!!
04.40pm - 17.10.2011 Peter - Partridge Green, West Sussex Report This
Agreed Bob. Weary is the word. Should be a nice little earner for them though. The lad seems happy enough and hope he heals up very soon.
08.25pm - 17.10.2011 Parent - Markinch, Fife Report This
6 year old!! Funnily enough doesn't mention in this report where the parent(s) were during this incident. ....... council neglect??
12.29am - 18.10.2011 Samantha - Glenrothes, Fife Report This
I disagree with you all, the kid that got hurt in the play park did not know the wall was going to fall down after all it said there was no fence around the area unlike a building site...totally different!! Would give your kid a thick ear for playing in the park??? I think not!!! Poor kid
08.59am - 18.10.2011 James McGullicuddy - Dundee, Scotland Report This
The local councils are quick off the mark to demand expensive repairs when they deem private property is unsafe to the public. Get well soon Darren and good luck in your compensation claim.
09.03am - 18.10.2011 Thornindaside - perth, scotland Report This
This is man-made wall near a children's play area and as such with children being children(although there is nothing in the article to suggest this wee boy was responsible for the falling rock)you'd think the council would regularly inspect it on grounds of health and safety.Who owns the wall?
12.05am - 19.10.2011 George - Dundee, Scotland Report This
We've had 'compensation' and 'health and safety'. Would someone oblige and mention 'global warming' so we can get the hat trick please ? I was thinking.... "global warming may have caused the stone to loosen" but am open to other ideas.
10.03am - 19.10.2011 Thornindaside - perth, scotland Report This
I think the phrase you were looking for was natural erosion (which is why we have laws obliging owners to maintain strustures in public places)global warming only comes into play when businesses and homes are flooded out again where there is inadequate drainage.Darren get well soon some care.
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