A TEN-year-old boy had a lucky escape after he plunged 15 feet backwards off a bridge and found he could not move.

Neil Hodgkinson, of Tiverton Close, Blackburn, was detained in Blackburn Royal Hospital on Saturday night after the fall in Mill Hill Bridge Street, Blackburn.

He had been staying at his grandmother's house in Nares Road and had gone out to play with three friends.

Neil had been sitting on the bridge wall when he overbalanced and toppled over, landing on the muddy embankment next to a small brook.

He could not move but lay there while his friends ran to his grandmother's and telephoned for the fire brigade and ambulance.

A neighbour helped him to his feet and took him to his grandmother's house then ambulance crews transferred him to casualty at Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

He had minor head injuries and severe bruising to his back.

"I can't remember walking to the house at all," said Neil. "I can't really remember anything after I fell, it's all a blur."

His father, Duncan, said: "They said he could come home but he had been sick and they decided to wait another half-an-hour to see if he was all right but then he was sick three or four times more so they kept him in overnight.

"They did some more tests the following morning and checked his movement and said he could go home."

His mother, Patricia, said: "I was out shopping and I only heard that Neil was in hospital when I got back. I was hysterical when I heard he'd fallen off a bridge.

"We're both very relieved that he is all right. He's a very brave boy."

"He was very lucky to have escaped like he did," said fire station officer Tom Davies.

"The bridge must have been at least 15ft to 20ft above the banking."

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