A 14-YEAR-OLD schoolboy is recovering today after a fall left him with broken wrists and a fractured skull.

A 14-YEAR-OLD schoolboy is recovering today after a fall left him with broken wrists and a fractured skull.

The year nine youngster from Thurleston High School was taken to Ipswich Hospital with serious injuries after the accident at about 11am on Thursday.

While leaning to talk to friends he fell over the first floor banister of the one of the school's new buildings and was briefly knocked unconscious by the impact.

Staff from Thurleston and nurses from neighbouring Thomas Wolsey Special School administered first aid before the boy was taken to Heath Road by paramedics.

Mike Everett, headteacher of the Defoe Road school, said: “It was from a first floor landing. He fell over the handrail into the stairwell.

“Obviously it was a serious incident and he did suffer quite a lot of injuries. He broke both wrists and fractured his skull.

“We have looked at CCTV and it looks as though he simply lost his balance.

“I understand he is now doing really well.”

The accident left pupils who witnessed it upset, and Suffolk County Council has provided support for them and staff.

Health and safety teams from both the council and the Health and Safety Executive were called to check the stairs in the English and modern languages block, which was only opened in September.

They found no faults, but in light of the accident the school is considering further measures which could be introduced to make all stairs safer.

Mr Everett added: “The thoughts of the whole school community go out to the boy and his family.

“I would also like to thank the staff who did a fantastic job in administering first aid and comforting him until the ambulance arrived.”