Boy, 14, in fall from '4th floor' of Fairfield High School foyer
A TEENAGE boy needed treatment in intensive care after falling from a stairwell in the foyer of Fairfield High School.
Pupils watched in horror as the student, believed to be 14 years old, suffered serious chest and head injuries on Friday afternoon. Paramedics and a critical care team from Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) sedated the pupil as they treated him at the scene, before he was taken to Frenchay Hospital.
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The foyer at Fairfield High School, which opened in 2006
Over the weekend, he was moved to Bristol Children's Hospital and was described last night as being in a "stable" condition.
GWAS spokeswoman Mel Glanville said paramedics who treated the pupil at lunch-time had been told that he had fallen from the fourth floor of the school.
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All pupils were sent home after the incident and counselling and support has been made available to anyone who needs it.
A statement on the school website read: "Fairfield High School can confirm that a pupil fell from the stairwell and has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
"Our thoughts and good wishes are with the pupil involved and his family and friends in what has been a shocking and distressing incident for us all. Thank you to all the students for their excellent behaviour and how calm and sensible they remained."
The council, police and the school are investigating how the boy ended up being injured in the £19 million building, which opened in 2006.
The school opened from 9am to noon on Saturday, with a counsellor and senior staff available for any pupils or parents traumatised by what happened.
That support will continue this week.
Head teacher Catriona Mangham, pictured, said on the school's website yesterday: "We are able to let you know that the pupil involved in the accident on Friday has been moved to the Children's Hospital and is in a stable condition.
"If students would like to send cards to him we would ask they bring them in to school on Monday morning and either hand to their tutor or student reception and a member of staff will take them all to him later that day.
"School will be open as normal on Monday with support services available from the local authority to students if they require them.
"I would like to thank also the number of parents and pupils who have contacted the school with best wishes and offers of support over the last 24 hours."
Councillor Sean Emmett, who is a governor at the school, told the Evening Post last night that the governors were investigating the incident.
"This is of course something which the governors will have the responsibility to investigate," he said.
"When the school was being designed safety was considered at that time, and we will need to look at that again.
"I was very shocked to hear what had happened and my thoughts go out to the pupil and his parents."
Elmfield School for Deaf Children, whose secondary school shares Fairfield's building, had to cancel its musical show due to be held on Friday night.
No one from the council was available when the Evening Post attempted to contact them for comment yesterday.
Comments
by sploge1948
Wednesday, February 29 2012, 4:57PM
“steve this is the same i got from the health and saftey they are just as bad with the new estates they build just look at the roads”
by sumoman
Wednesday, February 29 2012, 4:09PM
“The need to appoint blame for this incident seems to be a lot of peoples priorities right now. Anybody posting accusatory comments should be aware that actually aside from the child who fell and his parents it is the school staff that are most affected by this incident. Teachers would not knowingly expose children under their care to danger, they are commited to educating these young people and their safety is of course a priority.
The school has a duty of care yes, however even children are responsible for their own actions, and it would be impossible to police all their behaviour even if we really wanted to!
As for the comment stating that this kind of building would not be found in any workplace in the UK, do you really believe this? If you visit the website of the company who designed the building you can clearly see numerous examples of this style of architecture, including other secondary schools and many places that would be considered workplaces.
Perhaps everybody should stop trying to find who to point the finger at and accept this as the tragic accident that it is.”
by a___a
Wednesday, February 29 2012, 10:28AM
“How can my comment get 3 dislikes? Do you not want to protect young people? Is there a conspiracy on this page???”
by sploge1948
Wednesday, February 29 2012, 10:04AM
“IT ONLY HAS TO BE ONE THAT GETS HURT”
by a___a
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 11:06PM
“Surely this kind of risk of life cant happen? Whether the pupil was messing about or pushed the school has a duty of care!?”
by Bristolian123
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 6:48PM
“As a former pupil to who spent 5 year's in the building using the stairwell in question daily. I can safely say that the stairwells in the school are perfectly safe, the handrails are high and require even the tallest of pupils to jump up or pull themselves up in onto the handrails.
I really don't think a safety net is necessary, some may argue that it is given that this has happened but I can assure you the only way you could fall in this building is if you sat yourself up on the banister and fell off. and 4 stories up that goes completely against most peoples common sense
I have 2 younger siblings in Fairfield currently and I completely agree that the Stairs are perfectly safe providing you aren't sliding down the banisters.
@lolly60 I can assure you that the hand rails in this building are much just as high if not higher than every other stairwell I've ever used.
@brisstudent I couldn't agree with you more.
I understand that this may be a be seen as unsympathetic given the time's.
But I really hope the Boy in question get's well soon.”
by John_Name
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 5:26PM
“Brisstudent is that rare thing, a Bristol teenager who takes the trouble to express him/herself properly.”
by bobob3
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 11:59AM
“You have to say, its looks like it was designed to challenge an urban freestyle jumping event, filmed for youtube etc etc.
However, its wrong to cast aspersions . especially as its resulted in the child coming a cropper. He could have been pushed for all we know.”
by lolly60
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 10:34AM
“Was he mucking about on the stairs for this to happen as most children do.”
by Creeese
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 9:12AM
“brisstudent, pupils do misuse things... as do adults. I'm sure this kind of structure would not exist in any workplace in the UK.”