Boy, 9, cheats death in tree plunge

A MOTHER has admitted her hero son is lucky to be alive after he fell ten feet from a tree whilst rescuing a trapped friend.

BRAVE: Shane Williams was left dangling sideways for about 30 minutes. Picture: IAN GEORGESON

Nine-year-old Shane Williams had just helped his pal to get down from the tree on Broomhouse Walk when he lost his footing and fell.

The Broomhouse Primary pupil landed between the trunk and two branches and was left dangling sideways - about five feet from the ground - for around 30 minutes on Thursday night.

He had to be cut free by firefighters, and suffered bruising to the chest, groin, back and stomach. He was taken to the Sick Kids Hospital to be checked over.

It was the second drama to hit the Williams family in the space of a month after Shane's brother Ronan, seven, was knocked off his bike by a white cab on Broomhouse Grove last month.

Their mother Kirsty Williams, of Broomhouse Grove, said: "Shane had been playing with his brother Scott in the local park when he heard that his wee friend Brad, who is only six or seven, was stuck up a tree. Instead of getting an adult to help, he tried to help him himself.

"Another kid came running round to tell me that Shane had fallen out the tree, but I just thought he would have a little graze to his knee - I didn't think he would be trapped.

"He was actually wedged in between the tree trunk and branches and there was no way we could get him out.

"Shane was lucky because he just missed the six-feet fence which goes right round the tree and has nails sticking out of it, and there were broken bottles on the ground. The fireman said he would have had no chance."

A shocked Shane, who was drifting in and out of consciousness, was given gas and air by paramedics while firefighters used a saw to cut away the branches and release him.

Dozens of residents, including children, looked on as the drama unfolded at around 7pm.

Shane, who is in primary five, said: "It was really sore, there was a branch from the tree sticking into my belly."

Mrs Williams, 34, particularly thanked local resident Carol Munro, 42, who she said was "a godsend" and calmed the situation.

Mrs Munro said: "Shane was so close to the fence - he was a lucky little boy. It was quite a horrifying experience and I'm just glad that nobody was seriously hurt."

Mrs Williams, a mother-of-seven, said: "A man called Billy tried to get Shane out but every time you touched him, he screamed, so Billy just held him in the position he was in.

Mrs Williams added: "I'm proud of him but it could have been a lot worse. He is very lucky."A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: "This was an unusual incident but we had firefighters who used cutting gear to free the boy and we are glad to hear he is making a good recovery. It was an unfortunate set of circumstances, particularly when he was trying to help a friend."