Boy survives 100ft cliff fall, then a snake attacks him
Teenager trying to clamber to safety before tide comes in is bitten on hand by venomous adder
A TEENAGER broke his pelvis on rocks after plunging 100ft from a cliff then got bitten by Britain’s only venomous snake at the bottom.
Brock Leach, 14, tumbled over a cliff edge and bounced off outcroppings and rocks during his descent, before landing on a ledge.
But as he tried to clamber to safety before the tide came in, Brock felt a sharp pain in the hand he had been using to help pull himself along.
He was horrified to discover he had been bitten by an adder – the only native venomous snake in the UK.
The fall and bite was witnessed by his brother, Josh, 16, who had run to his aid and tried to get him to higher ground.
Brock could not go any further so Josh flagged down passers-by who called for help.
His arm had already swollen to three times its normal size, and he was flown to hospital, where he was given antivenom for the adder bite and kept in overnight.
He also suffered a fractured pelvis and severe bruising from the initial fall.
The incident took place at the cliff top at Trebarwith Strand, Tintagel, Cornwall, on Sunday when it is believed Brock slipped on some lichen while heading for a sea swim with his brother.
Josh said he saw his brother fall and, despite being frightened himself, he went to Brock’s rescue, scrambling down the steep incline to reach his side.
He said: “He was still conscious and talking, I got him out of the way to a higher ledge because the sea was coming in.
“It was while we were scrambling back up that Brock put out his hand and was bitten by an adder.
“We both saw the snake. I’ve only ever seen one before – a very young one years ago. So to be bitten after falling down a cliff like that was so unlucky.
“Brock was already in pain from his pelvis. But his hand started swelling up. He said it was hurting him. I had to leave him at a ledge and said to stay there, but he wanted to go with me.
“With help from passers-by we managed to get him up to the top of the cliff and then Brock was flown to hospital.”
Brock’s mother, Tracey, 47, of Tintagel, said: “He had a very lucky escape but I’m really proud of them both. They were both very, very scared. Josh saw his brother disappear and heard him scream as he went over the ledge. He didn’t panic.
“He scrambled down and he made sure he told the people who came to help that it was an adder bite.
“It could have been a lot worse. Brock took a real battering but his head and face are completely unscathed.”
Tracey, who also has two other sons, Oliver, 19, and Samuel, 18, heard the rescue helicopter from their home while she was speaking to her husband Dean, 43, online from Vietnam, where he is working as an ocean exploration scientist.
But she had no idea her sons were involved until Josh arrived home a short while later accompanied by a coastguard.