Year 9 seriously hurt at school

A boy who was rushed to Auckland after losing feeling in his feet in a playground incident at a Tararua school is expected to make a full recovery.

The Palmerston North Rescue helicopter was sent to the Dannevirke school at about 9.30am Thursday after the boy suffered a back injury, a spokeswoman from the Philips Search and Rescue Trust said.

Totara College of Accelerated Learning principal Deborah Max said the year 9 pupil was playing on the playground before school when he attempted to leap from one piece of equipment to a cargo net opposite.

However, he misjudged the distance and fell, hitting his head on a bar below.

Staff trained in first aid and a registered nurse were on hand and tended to the pupil, but because he wasn’t able to move his legs they immediately called an ambulance.

St John Ambulance staff treated him initially, but the injury was severe so he was flown more than 400 kilometres to Starship Hospital in Auckland, to be assessed further.

Pilot Lance Burns said the boy’s dad accompanied him in the helicopter, which reached Starship at about 1pm Thursday.

Max said they had heard from the boy’s mum on Friday, who said he had regained feeling in his feet.

‘‘We had a report to say he has feeling in his feet and he’s expected to make a full recovery.’’

The school was small with students ranging from year 1 to year 13.

A school spokeswoman said they were also like a family, so the incident had affected everybody.

She said they wanted to thank St John, the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter and the Dannevirke Fire Brigade for their help, as well as the staff at Starship Hospital.