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 think the school officer giving them a warning will hopefully enough to stop them doing it again. As you said they have a reputation for being fills rather than malicious bullies, they sound very immature but some fifteen year olds are, they pushed him because they thought if he fell people would laugh at him, they portable would have done it to whoever was in front of them. School punishment and a stern talking to from the police liaison should be enough unless they've got form for violence.

The OP mentions lack of supervision - the teacher was setting up the goals and had asked the boys to warm up. Surely no one would expect a second adult to be "supervising" the class while he did that? It's not as if he would of been out of sight of the group..

I wouldn’t advise any patients parents to contact the police unless there was a serious injury, which this doesn’t sound like. I don’t know who advised that but they really shouldn’t have done.

Btw just to put your mind at ease that spur is meant to be there - an avulsion fracture just means a bit has been pulled away.

I don’t know how the hospital know it was malicious when not there.

@MrsStrowman I've no idea about previous form for violence however the school will know and I'm sure that will factor into they're consequences.

@mumstaxi2 The teacher said he should've been supervising better and quite often there is more than one adult during lessons for an array of reasons.

That's interesting - I'm not sure that his managers would be so happy with him saying that! Poor teacher though - he does probably feel terrible. As the lad who pushed your son hopefully also does!

@Moreisnnogedag First it was the staff at the reception desk then two different nurses. They deemed it malicious from the description my son gave. The pic I've attached isn't my sons X-ray but that's where his spur is it looks really odd but I'm glad to hear it won't cause any issues. The nurses don't like to give too much info as the X-rays are looked at within 72 hrs and I'll get a call from the fracture clinic this week sometime. She did say they may put another cast on or a splint depending on what Drs think.

@Starlight345 Even my son can't say for sure. He said it was a really hard push/ shove and that when he fell everyone laughed at him because of the way he was holding his wrist it looked like he'd hurt his nuts and that they only took him seriously when he threw up everywhere

I WOULD involve the police. Absolutely. If this is being seen as amusing by these kids no teacher reprimand is going to make a difference. Its an assault resulting in a serious injury and that is how you should treat it.

Perhaps I'm on one after an incident at school on Friday (secondary teacher) but I do believe if it were my kid I'd involve the police for the incident assuming it happened exactly as you describe it.

@motortroll The description I've given is exactly what my son told me. My hat goes off to teachers and the shit they have to put up with.

I would consider how I would feel if my son's wrist was unbroken but the same incident occurred. I don't think I would feel that worked up about someone tripping my son up unless it was part of a pattern of behaviour.

The fact that he broke his wrist is very unfortunate but unintentional.

I broke my wrist in 4 places while slipping over in the ice walking my dogs! It doesn't have to be a major event - just bad positioning/luck. I had never broken anything before or since

Morning I've been updated by school, they found out who was responsible and it was one of the two lads who's names had been bandied around. He said he was messing around although the teacher believes otherwise. Consequences are internal exclusion, detention and an apology letter. I was asked if I was happy with the outcome and my response was that it was upto the school to decide what was deemed appropriate considering they know all parties concerned. Thanks for all the messages

How does your son feel about the punishment?

@WhoWants2Know I think he's a little bit gutted as he's found out that the boy who did was blaming someone else all weekend trying to deflect from himself. We will see how school goes tomorrow as we are back in the fracture clinic they are hoping to put a soft cast on.