A YOUNG boy from Pinvin is recovering in hospital this week after impaling himself on the branch of a tree.

Nine-year-old Josh Sheppard was climbing the tree on the village recreation ground when he slipped and fell on a broken branch, piercing his thigh.

A neighbour called the emergency services and helped Josh's mum, Tracey, take her son's weight until an ambulance and firefighters arrived.

Mrs Sheppard, aged 37, said: "It was a terrible shock. I am glad my neighbours were there. Josh is a big lad and holding him steady was a very traumatic experience."

Firefighters used an electric saw to cut the branch off the tree and Josh was airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital last Saturday.

Surgeons removed the rest of the wood, which narrowly missed main arteries, and the boy's wound has been monitored in hospital ever since.

Mrs Sheppard, who had not left her son's side until Tuesday evening, said it had been a very emotional time.

"I'm just coming to terms with the fact that Josh's accident could have been so much worse. I don't think he will be climbing trees again but he's fine now," she said.

Mrs Sheppard said she was just pottering about the house when two of Josh's friends ran in and told her he was stuck up a tree screaming.

She said: "I didn't realise at first the branch had gone into his thigh. I thought it just went through his trousers."

She said neighbours with first aid experience advised her not to try to move him then called the emergency services.

Josh's dad, James, said: "It was such a shock when I came home and saw the air ambulance. The whole scene was like something you see on TV. We were all very shaken.

Paula, Josh's 17-year-old sister, also arrived on the scene. She said her brother, who was a little accident prone, was distressed but brave and excited about the helicopter ride.

Josh, a pupil at Pinvin Middle School, was expected to see his surgeon again today and likely to be back home tomorrow or Saturday.