Impaled boy"s wait (From Penarth Times)

Impaled boy"s wait

A 12-YEAR-OLD Penarth boy who was impaled on railings at Belle Vue Park has received an apology from the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust after it took 45 minutes for a crew to arrive at the scene.

Stanwell Comprehensive pupil Aaron Huton impaled himself on a gate while attempting to climb out of the park, after he and a group of friends found themselves locked inside the grounds at around 6pm on Tuesday, January 24.

Aaron said: "I was with a group of four or five friends playing on the new net climbing frame.

"We had to climb out as we were locked in - no-one had told us that the park was closing.

"As I was climbing the fence I slipped and the railings pierced through my stomach.

"I was in agony."

Anna Kuczynska, a GP at a Barry surgery who lives on Belle Vue Terrace, was called on to attend to Aaron.

She said: "I was with Aaron for 30 minutes before the ambulance arrived, but other people on the scene said they made an emergency call 15 minutes before that. As it turned out Aaron's injuries were superficial, but they could have been a lot worse.

"Had the injuries been more serious, the delay in the arrival of the ambulance could have seriously affected prognosis.

"I understand that the ambulance service must be under a great deal of pressure, but I do feel response times in the Vale of Glamorgan are a great cause of concern for the community.

"The response in this instance was not satisfactory."

Aaron was released from hospital after undergoing an operation on his stomach.

A spokesperson from the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust said: "The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust would like to apologise unreservedly for any distress and anxiety caused to the patient and bystanders by the delayed response on this occasion.

"The Trust is currently undertaking a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this case."