Teenager severs foot after freak accident
Community rallies round after boy rushed to Oxford for emergency surgery
THE MOTHER of a boy who suffered life-changing injuries after falling from a fence last weekend has said she is ‘blown away’ by the support shown to her by the people of Wokingham.
Scott Turner, 13, severed his right foot when he fell around 12 feet from the top of a fence at his home in Orbit Close, Finchampstead on Sunday afternoon.
But thanks to the quick response of paramedics and an off-duty medical specialist, his foot has been saved, and the teenager is now receiving treatment at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
On Wednesday, he underwent 10 hours of surgery to fuse his bones with metal plates, screws and pins to secure his ankle in place.
An online fundraising page has now been set up by members of the community to help cover his mother Vickie Robertson’s parking costs at the hospital every day.
In less than 24-hours, the page has raised more than £2,700 for Ms Robertson, who is a mother of four.
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Ms Robertson, who has worked tirelessly to help Syrian refugee families settling in the local area, has said she is ‘blown away’ by the community’s generosity.
She said in a post on social media: “We would like to say how absolutely blown away we are by all your support and love and kindness. It has truly kept us all going and from Lillie, Bonnie and Xavier too who see their brother as a hero (which he is) you are helping in so many ways!! Can't thank you enough!
“To the specialist man on his day off who attended the scene literally helping save [Scott’s] life and foot, thanks to a quick thinking paramedic, I can never repay you guys enough!
“To all the staff and people at JR you are amazing and it is by far above any care I could have imagined... above and beyond and so thankful I could stay every night!
“I am blown away by the response and would never have asked anyone for anything other than a cuddle and some positive thoughts and prayers!”
Eye-witnesses said that the emergency services were on the scene ‘ within minutes’ of the horrific accident at around midday on Sunday.
A South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) spokesperson confirmed they were called at 11.58am on Sunday.
David Gallagher said: “We were called following a report that a 13-year-old boy had fallen from a fence and sustained a serious ankle injury.
“We sent a community first responder, an ambulance, an air ambulance rapid response car, as well as a doctor, to the scene.
“After initial treatment at the scene, the boy was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, for further treatment.”
Friend Nikki Webb set up the GoFundMe page on Tuesday hoping to raise £5,000 to cover Ms Robertson’s costs visiting her son in hospital.
She said: “Scott and his amazing mum Vickie have a a very long road to recovery and as their friends we wanted to do something to help them Lilly, Bonnie and Xavier so we thought we would set up this page.
“Driving to and from the hospital and parking alone is going to be £30-£40 a day, and this could be for weeks, months even.
“Then once Scott is home there will intensive daily physio needed so Vickie will still be unable to go back to work.
“Vickie is a single mum to four and she works tirelessly for charity so this our chance to give something back to her and show her just how much we all care about her and the kids.”
To donate, visit www.gofundme. com/scott-turners-recovery-fund