Boy impaled on nail after fall

The boy was climbing in his back garden in Bodiam at around 5pm last Thursday (August 12) when he slipped and landed on a four-foot wooden plank, with an exposed nail, which had been leaning against the tree.

The nail is believed to have gone through the boy's forefinger.

Paramedics were called to the property and a fire crew from Battle were called to help cut the wooden plank so the distressed boy could be taken to hospital.

Firefighters stabilised the plank using wedges and secure lines, before using a handsaw to remove large bits of wood.

Paramedics then bandaged the boy's hand and the remaining six-inch piece of wood and he was taken to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

The crew returned to Battle Fire Station at 5.50pm.

Crew commander John Baker said it had been an 'unusual' call out and praised the young boy's bravery.

He said: "He was very good and was very brave and the main thing was to get him in a position where he could be taken off to hospital and get it dealt with as soon as possible."

Another firefighter added: "The boy was in extreme pain but we kept him calm talking about what a great story he would have to tell when he returned to school in September."