Sons wrist fractured in 2 places

[glitterelf]

More of a WWYD
Son was at school on Friday and had just been instructed by his teacher to warm up before playing football, teacher was busy setting up and the kids were running around the pitch. Whilst running another child has come up from behind and shoved my son who's taking an almighty tumble and bashed both knees an elbow and landed on his outstretched arm. Cue lots of laughter from the other kids. Son got up and stumbled off the pitch and threw up clearly in a state of shock. Teacher thought he'd simply fallen over and kept prompting him to go to reception which eventually he did with the help of two of his mates. School call me to tell me he's fallen and complaining of pain I ask the obvious questions like did he hit his head ? Has he been sick ? All questions were answered No. Then I dashed across town to collect him. On arrival he was visibly in a state of shock and adamant it was broken and that he hadn't fallen was shoved from behind by one of two boys. Get to the car for him to then tell me he's also been sick. Once I'd booked him in at A&E and sourced some pain meds I called the school to request the teacher calls me which 5 mins later he did he was very apologetic and vowed to find out what happened and said he would call back to see how son was later. Whilst being seen by various staff at the hospital they kept saying we should get the police involved as it appears it was a malicious incident and they kept asking for the name of the school which I'd already given. X-ray confirmed distal radius fracture and Ulna styliod avulsion fracture. Teacher called back whilst cast was being done and I could tell he was absolutely gutted to hear the news and has said he will be investigating tomorrow morning in the hope of finding out who did it. Now my question is do I involve the police or not ? I'm unsure of what outcome I'm expecting. If it was a simple accident I wouldn't be angry but I'm really angry and awaiting a call from fracture clinic once they've reviewed the X-ray and hoping no surgery is required. My sons in quite a bit of pain and discomfort so I'm keeping him topped up with pain killers, not sure how long he's likely to experience pain ? Sorry I've waffled btw these are all 15-16yr olds involved.

I would. I wouldn't expect the full arm.of the law, however it may scare them into not doing it again. The police will probably just talk to them and explain what the outcome would be if charges were pressed. It does sound malicious but even if it was playful they shouldnt of done it. At 15/16 they really should know not to be pushing each other. Hope your son is ok and on the mend soon x

It sounds awful, but I don't think I would call the police. I'm not sure that there would have been any intention to do this level of harm.

The school need talking to though, and the kids.

I would not involve police, but I would like an apology from the lad.

DS broke his elbow this year after a rough tackle in casual footie game on a school trip (DS said one of many such tackles that were out of order). I'm a bit peeved about the rough kid, but it's a rough game and kids do stupid things.

I wonder if your son's breaks are like the ones I had years ago (also both bones in forearm). Mine did hurt a lot but I didn't need to puke & normally I puke i response to anything.

The school got my full rage voicemail on Friday for not informing me he'd been sick. From what I can gather the two names that have been put forward seem to be Jack the lads and the stories that be heard of how my son became injured are laughable from the different scenarios to where on his body he was injured. I'm concerned that there was a lack in supervision but I think there maybe cctv coverage so I will be asking the school first thing in the morning. Does anybody know if hospitals report incidents that have happened at school to other agencies? Also would the school need to notify under RIDDOR ? Thanks for the well wishes I'm keeping him off tomorrow as we have an appointment in the afternoon as he's still in discomfort I'd prefer for him to rest than go to school and be ridiculed.

@YeOldeTrout thankfully his bones are still a little soft so fracture to the radius hasn't gone straight through but the other fracture looks like a chipped bone that shouldn't be where it is at all and looks like a spur about 1cm long right on the wrist joint

Unless there was a backstory of bullying behaviour I would not involve the police in a push on a football pitch. It is very unlikely the pusher intended any harm. Consider the impact on a child in this situation.

I’m really sorry to hear about the injury, my own ds fractured his wrist playing rugby at school. It happens unfortunately. Certainly ask for an investigation and an apology to your son. The school should have internal discipline to deal with it. Request a meeting to discuss but really think several times before involving the police.

And no, I really doubt the hospital would involve the police on your behalf.

Sounds like you're on the warpath.
Nobody at hospital tried to suggest to us that someone should be prosecuted for DS's injury, I'm surprised your hospital has opinion on that.
Hope your son feels better soon. It seems to take 1-3 weeks after cast is off for arm to feel normal again, we find.

As a teacher my advice would be to find out whether this was boys messing around which has ended badly or a malicious attempt at assault. It'll be difficult but sounds as though the PE teacher feels guilty (As they should) so you might be more likely to get an honest response out of him. If it's the former, no police but I would be pushing for exclusion. The latter, inform the school and call the police.

Teachers are in loco parentis..looking after him as a parent would. That incident could have happened easily in the park or in your garden while you were in charge. No way is it the teachers fault. And if your ds pushed someone and they broke their wrist you would be hoping the other family would have mercy on him. These things happen when kids play around together.
My dh broke my dss wrist kicking a ball that ds tried to block with his hand up. There was no malicious intent here unless your ds has been bullied by this boy.

If it's repetitive behaviour of this kid then yes as he's above the age of criminal responsibility. If it was a one off and he was really trying to mess around with his friend then I wouldn't.

Perhaps the school has a school beat officer who can speak to the boys concerned. A shot across the bow as it were.

@MatildaTheCat they weren't playing football at the time they were running around the pitch to warm up. I think if it was a genuine accident the person in question would've said sorry at the time.

@YeOldeTrout I'm not on the warpath but I am angry that kids this age are so bloody foolish. The hospital asked at least three times about police involvement and the schools name at that point my only priority was getting my son medical treatment. I have not contacted the police and ultimately after we have spoken to the school tomorrow will be my sons decision as he is the injured party.

@Bobbiepin I had to tell the teacher to stop apologising I do not hold him responsible. Through the grapevine it's coming across as malicious. My son hasn't had any previous issues with the two named boys in question but had said they are clowns.

Unfortunately teenagers are foolish and partake in foolish behaviour without a thought for the consequences. I wouldn't involve the police but I would expect an apology from the boy

@junebirthdaygirl the two boys have in question are not friends with my son. Yes he could fall anywhere but he was shoved from behind unprovoked and if was just someone fooling around the school will still have consequences not sure what they will be.

@Fiffyshadesofgreymatter I think these kids have form but this is the first incident involving my child. I know that they are not friends and only cross paths for some lessons.

If it was a random child at my sons school that had done this I'd let the school deal with it. But if one of the two particular boys who have caused no end of problems I would ring the police as I'd know it was done maliciously if it was them.

I recently had a parent come into school raging. Her DS had complained of having a sore wrist after falling over. We contacted her, and she collected him and took him to hospital the following day. He had broken his wrist.
He had told his parents that he had been pushed over by another child when he was going to the toilet, which is next door to the classroom. Parents were livid about lack of supervision. In actual fact, he had asked for permission to go to the toilet, but whilst out of the room had chased another boy downstairs, they had had a fight and he had fallen whilst trying to hit the other boy on the stairs. All on CCTV! Not surprisingly, his parents then directed teir anger towards him.

Going to the police because one boy pushed your boy and he fell, breaking his wrist is a total overreaction and misuse of police time. They are not toddlers, they should all have been sensible, but they are hormonal teenagers warming up on a football pitch doing what they do best, messing about. If your boy is in some pain, give him paracetamol and send him to school. Why the school would go on about police involvement I do not know. That's not their place.

@tinytemper66 I'm sure they have a liaison officer who works closely with the school that's a good shout. I will wait and see what the school say tomorrow and see what my boy wants to do.

@nokidshere I was pretty shocked at he hospital asking about police involvement I guess they must see and hear a lot of what goes on in schools these days Teens are horrible and in no way am I saying my sons perfect either. I'd never want to ruin a child either hopefully the school can sort it out as I'd hate for anything to escalate.

Teachers are in loco parentis..looking after him as a parent would. That incident could have happened easily in the park or in your garden while you were in charge. No way is it the teachers fault

I may be wrong but I think the OP is talking about getting the police involved for the boys, not the teachers.

Talking to the school's PO is not a bad call.

@lunar1 He's had no involvement with these kids prior to this incident but apparently others have.

@Soontobe60 Hence why I'm questioning myself it was the hospital that kept asking about police involvement which made me feel like I'd done something wrong my only concern was and is my child. I do not want him facing any repercussions from Friday's incident.

@Bobbiepin that's right and only because the hospital were banging on about it. Poor teacher was mortified on the phone I felt sorry for him.