Three boys rushed to hospital after tree crashes down on them at school playground
Three schoolboys were rushed to hospital, one seriously injured, after a tree fell on them at the end of morning break at a Birmingham school yesterday (July 1)
An ambulance at the scene at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys in Kings Heath where a tree fell on pupils in a playground
Three schoolboys were injured – one critically – when a tree crashed down on them in the playground. They were rushed to hospital following the alarming incident at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys in Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, shortly after 10am yesterday, Wednesday, July 1.
The lads, all teenagers, were struck when the tree toppled over at the end of morning break. One was transported by ambulance on blue lights to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, with paramedics accompanying him to provide ongoing treatment during the journey, reports Birmingham Live.
Two additional boys also sustained potentially serious injuries. The school is now investigating how it happened. A spokeswoman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 10.18am on Wednesday, July 1, to reports a tree branch had fallen at a school on Vicarage Road, Birmingham.
“Three ambulances, two paramedic officers, the critical care car and a trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended the scene.
“Upon arrival we found three teenage boys.
“The first had sustained serious injuries and received advanced trauma care from ambulance staff at the scene before being conveyed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital under emergency blue light conditions with medics travelling on board for continued treatment en route.
“The second and third had sustained potentially serious injuries.
“They received treatment at the scene before being conveyed to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further assessment.”
The school confirmed ‘a small number of students were directly involved in the incident’ and all the emergency services attended the scene.
A spokesman for the King Edward VI Academy Trust said: “An incident occurred at King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys at the end of morning break yesterday when a section of a tree fell within the playground area.
“Emergency services attended the school immediately and responded swiftly to the situation. All the emergency services were in attendance.
“The area was secured without delay, and specialist crews worked safely to remove the tree.
“A small number of students were directly involved in the incident.
“Their families were contacted promptly, and the affected pupils received appropriate care and support.”
The statement continued: “School staff have also been supporting pupils who witnessed the incident, monitoring their wellbeing and providing additional pastoral support where needed.
“The safety and wellbeing of our pupils and staff remain our highest priority.
“We are grateful to the emergency services for their swift and professional response, and to our staff for the care and support they provided yesterday and are continuing to provide.
“A full and thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident is under way.
“We respectfully ask that the privacy of the pupils, their families and our staff is respected.”
The school confirmed it remained open on Wednesday and was operating as usual today, Thursday, 2nd July.
