A 13-YEAR-OLD boy who was impaled on his bicycle's 2ft long flagpole has today been praised for his bravery.

By MEYREM HUSSEIN,

meyrem.hussein@eveningstar.co.uk>

A 13-YEAR-OLD boy who was impaled on his bicycle's 2ft long flagpole has today been praised for his bravery.

Paramedics and firefighters rushed to the scene in School Street, Needham Market, after receiving reports of the horrific injury.

Arriving shortly before 6.30pm yesterday, they worked to free the boy from his bicycle before taking him to Ipswich Hospital.

Carl Francis, assistant divisional officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, was at the scene.

He said: “The paramedics were there with him and had called us to assist.

“He had impaled himself on a steel pole that was being used almost as a flagpole. It was fixed to the back seat of his bicycle.

“The steel bar went through from his left leg, through his groin area and out through his right side.”

The fire service had to cut the back of the seat away to allow the youngster to be put in the ambulance.

The crew from Needham Market used hydraulic cutting equipment.

It is not known exactly how the boy sustained his injury, but Mr Francis was full of praise for the 13-year-old.

He said: “The young lad was superb. We explained to him what we were going to do.

“He was fully conscious and was able to talk and say how he felt.

“He was very brave and very calm, given the circumstances of the serious injury he had suffered.

“Although I am sure he was in pain, he was very calm and able to answer us fully.

“The lad's mother was there and able to go with him to the hospital.”

n. Are you part of the boy's family? Would you like to say thank you to the emergency services for the help they gave?

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