A CHRISTCHURCH schoolboy will spend his 13th birthday on Friday recovering from injuries suffered in a fall at school which led to him being airlifted to hospital in Dorchester.

Josh Smith will have to undergo tests after the bruising has subsided to discover whether he has broken bones in his wrist and elbow when he fell down stairs at Grange School, Somerford.

He suffered convulsions and lack of sensation in his legs.

Mum Leanne Smith from Hunts Road, Christchurch, said Josh was diagnosed as suffering from spinal crush shock.

She said her son suffered from blackouts and school staff knew how to cope with them.

“It can happen up to three or four times a month,” she said.

“He does hurt himself. He does have lots of bumps and scrapes and bruises, but this is the first time it’s been serious like this.”

Last Thursday Josh recognised the signs and told a friend he did not feel well.

“He sat down and then fell forward,” said Mrs Smith.“He was very lucky. If he had stood up and fallen he would have been in all sorts of trouble.”

She thanked the emergency teams and school staff.

Josh said he was going to celebrate his birthday at an under-18s’ nightclub: “But I can’t go any more because of my blackouts.”

Mrs Smith said: “It’s the second year his birthday has been spoiled because he was in a plastercast on his birthday last year.”

Ambulance staff attended and called for air support, which was provided by Solent Coastguard.

Grange headteacher Mark Stenton said: “We are delighted with the response from the emergency services and wish Josh a speedy recovery.”

Mrs Smith added: “It was the first time he’s ever flown and all he said to me was: ‘All the time I was on my back and didn’t see anything’.”