Schoolboy, 14, airlifted to hospital after being hit by falling tree branch

A schoolboy has been airlifted to hospital after he was hit by a falling tree branch on his way to school.

The boy, 14, a pupil at Ysgol Bryn Elian in Colwyn Bay, Wales, was stretchered into an air ambulance and taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool with serious injuries.

He was walking to the school just before 9am when the tree branch hit him.

The school confirmed the incident and said it had been in contact with the child’s parents.

A spokesman for North Wales Police said: ‘A teenage boy was taken to Alder Hey Hospital by air ambulance with serious injuries after being hit by a falling branch from a tree on a footpath off Llanelian Road, Old Colwyn, at 9 am today as he made his way to school.’

Chief Inspector Owain Llewelyn added: ‘Our thoughts are first and foremost with the young boy and his family. We are working with the Health and Safety Executive to establish the full circumstances and we are grateful to all those who responded so quickly to help.’

Police said the road has been closed off for a short time while emergency services are at the scene.

The Daily Post newspaper reported school staff have been assisting police and paramedics.

Ysgol Bryn Elian is an 11-18 school with approximately 950 pupils, 150 of whom are sixth formers.

The school serves the community to the East of Colwyn Bay, comprising Old Colwyn, Llanddulas, Llysfaen and surrounding areas.

A post on the school’s Twitter account read: ‘We can confirm that an incident has taken place this morning at Ysgol Bryn Elian involving one pupil.

‘The fire service, police, ambulance and air ambulance were all in attendance.

‘The school remain in contact with the pupil’s family. No further comment at this point in time.’

We can confirm that an incident has taken place this morning at Ysgol Bryn Elian involving one pupil. The fire service, police, ambulance and air ambulance were all in attendance.

The school remain in contact with the pupil's family.

No further comment at this point in time.

— Ysgol Bryn Elian (@YsgolBrynElian) May 1, 2019

A spokesman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called at approximately 8:50am this morning to reports that a tree had fallen on a male.

‘We sent one emergency ambulance, one paramedic in a rapid response vehicle and one advanced paramedic practitioner in a rapid response vehicle.

‘Wales Air Ambulance are also supporting our crews at scene.’