Larkhall Boy (12) tells of 30ft horror plunge at Avon Gorge

Aug 27 2009 by Gary Fanning, Hamilton Advertiser

A BRAVE boy of 12 this week told of his miracle escape after plunging down a 100ft gorge.

Stuart McLuggage feared he would never walk again after falling from a swing rope into the Avon Gorge in Larkhall.

The second-year Larkhall Academy pupil was airlifted to hospital with seven broken ribs, a punctured lung, fractured right and left pelvis, and a broken femur.

During the 30ft horror plunge, he also suffered internal bleeding, damage to his liver and kidneys, and lost four pints of blood.

Doctors have told the youngster that he won’t be able to walk for at least six weeks until he has fully recovered for last month’s accident.

Speaking from his Larkhall home, Stuart told the Advertiser: “I was on the swing rope and was too far out when the branch I was holding on to snapped and I fell into the gorge.

“I can’t remember anything after that, and don’t remember going through the air and landing on the ground.

“The next thing I can remember is opening my eyes and my pal was sitting beside me. I must have been unconscious for about five minutes.

“I was feeling hot and cold and was frightened by what happened.

“It was a miracle that I survived.

“Had I fallen all the way down, I would have been dead. I feel lucky to be alive.”

Stuart is on the mend at home after spending three weeks at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital in Glasgow following the accident.

Stuart lives with his mum Carol (32), who works at the Co-op in Larkhall’s Union Street, his dad Stuart, a bricklayer, and his two brothers Darren and Scott.

Stuart, of Shaw Street, needed a blood transfusion and had a major operation on the top of his right leg during which two large metal pins were inserted.

Doctors have told him not to put any pressure on his legs for at least six weeks until they fully heal.

Stuart gets around at the moment in a wheelchair and by using walking sticks to get up to his bedroom.

“I would be happy to keep the pins in my legs rather than go through another big operation,” he added.

“I am off the school for the next six weeks but my pal is coming around with my homework.”

Stuart was playing with pals Scott Gallacher (12), Marc Penman (13) and his younger brother Darren (9), on a rope swing attached to a tree at the edge of the Birkenshaw Football fields in Shaw Street.

Stuart was swinging high above the gorge when the accident happened.

His friends watched in horror and could hear his screams for help as he lay in agony.

Terrified Darren ran home to raise the alarm as his friends give him reassurance that help was on its way.

His father (38), along with his next door neighbour, David Fisher, raced to the scene.

Stuart scrambled down the steep gorge to help his frightened son.

The dad-of-three said: “I got a massive fright. I got see Stuart’s face going white. I was shaking like a leaf. I got to them and David told me not to move him.

“His injuries didn’t look bad at the time. I am just relieved that he is okay.

“He couldn’t eat in the hospital for a week and half.

“He’s got his appetite back and eating us out of home.

“But I am glad he’s here today to tell his story.”

Residents said the gorge, off Birkenshaw playing field in Shaw Street, was popular with youngsters and insisted it was an accident waiting to happen.

They urged South Lanarkshire Council to erect a fence in the area in a bid to prevent a tragedy

A council spokeswoman said it wasn’t possible to fence off the area.

Stuart warned other young people to stay away from the area and not put their lives in danger by playing on the rope swing.

He added: “I would just like to say to youngsters not to go anywhere near there because I don’t want them to fall. I don’t want anyone else to suffer pain I went through.

“I would urge them to keep away from the area.”