TEENAGER Stuart Hamilton escaped death by inches after his hand was blown off by a firework.

The 15-year-old's arm was wrapped in a makeshift bandage by a friend who carried him 500 yards from the grounds of Elton High School to a car which took him to Fairfield General Hospital .

His father, James Hamilton, of Green Street, Elton, spoke of his anguish after a 48-hour vigil at the bedside of his son in Wythenshawe Hospital, where he had been transferred for specialist treatment.

He said: "Stuart's hand was blown off at the wrist. Doctors said the blast was as powerful as a landmine going off.

"Had he been holding the firework six inches higher he would have blown his head off." The force of the industrial-strength firework also left Stuart, thought to be a former pupil at the school, with third degree burns to his chest, flash burns to his eyes and perforated ear drums.

It had been feared, at one stage, that he could have lost a further part of his right arm.

As reported in Tuesday's Bury Times, one of his severed fingers was found by staff at the school in Walshaw Road last Friday morning. The accident happened around 10pm the previous night.

Rescuer Aaron Williams (15) of Warwick Close, Bury, was praised by Mr Hamilton for tying a tourniquet around Stuart's shattered limb and helping him to a friend's car.

"Aaron saved my son's life," said Mr Hamilton.

"He must have been in shock himself but he had the presence of mind to put a tourniquet on Stuart's arm and then physically carried him to a waiting car and got him to hospital.

"Stuart will be in hospital for at least two more weeks but he is finally off the morphine and making a good recovery." But Mr Hamilton added: "However, there are fears he could suffer mentally as a result of the accident.

"He doesn't know what happened and can't remember where he got the firework from."

Mr Hamilton is now warning other youngsters of the dangers of playing with fireworks.

He said: "As a lad I played with bangers, but they were nothing like what we have around today. You couldn't get hold of industrial fireworks.

"The one that maimed my son was as powerful as a landmine.

"I implore teenagers to keep well clear and certainly never return to a firework once it has been lit."

Thirteen windows were broken in one classroom. Bury police are still investigating the incident and are keen to hear from any witnesses.