The mum of a boy who fell 20ft while out playing with his friends on the outskirts of Stevenage says he’s lucky to be alive and is keen to thank the strangers who went to his aid.

The Comet: Jayden,10, had to have plastic surgery after he fell 20 feet onto his face while out playing with friends in Stevenage.Jayden,10, had to have plastic surgery after he fell 20 feet onto his face while out playing with friends in Stevenage. (Image: Archant)

Becky Mitchell’s children, 10-year-old Jayden and 11-year-old Tegan, were out playing on their bikes when they strayed too far from their Shephall home.

They ventured into Pryor’s Wood on the edge of town, on the way to Walkern, and found a rope swing over a large ditch.

Together with friends, they took it in turns to swing out over the ditch and, when it was Jayden’s turn, the rope snapped.

Becky said: “He fell 20 to 25 feet and his face took the whole impact.

The Comet: Jayden,10, had to have plastic surgery after he fell 20 feet onto his face while out playing with friends in Stevenage.Jayden,10, had to have plastic surgery after he fell 20 feet onto his face while out playing with friends in Stevenage. (Image: Archant)

“I had a call from my daughter saying my son had hurt himself and there was blood everywhere.

“I ran out of the house, but none of them could tell me where they were.

“Tegan said ‘there’s lots of blood and I don’t know what to do’. I could hear someone shouting for an ambulance. I asked them to run through the woods to the nearest street and read the road name.

“They were on Gresley Way and had managed to get Jayden out of the woods and onto the side of the road for help.”

By the time Becky arrived, people had stopped their cars and others had run out of their houses to help.

One woman drove Becky and Jayden to Lister Hospital, where he had a full body scan.

Becky said: “His face was one big bloody mess. He had deep gashes and had broken his eye socket. They were worried there was internal damage and also had to rule out brain injury.”

Jayden had to have plastic surgery and lots of stitches after last Tuesday’s accident.

Becky said: “He’s on the mend but still in a lot of pain.

“I’m so grateful to the people who stopped and ran out of their houses to help and want to thank them for all they did.

“He could have died, and he’s lucky he’s not paralysed. I’m just grateful he’s alive.”

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