Fife Council has launched an investigation into a wall collapse that seriously injured a six-year-old boy.
As we reported on Monday (link), Darren Brown of Newburgh had his leg crushed by a falling rock when a retaining wall near his home on Whitecraig Road gave way while he was playing nearby.
His mother, Kerry (34), said the rock had torn through his muscle, exposing the bone. He had an operation at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital on Wednesday.
Mrs Brown contacted The Courier about the incident at the weekend. The council had publicised the fact the wall had collapsed, but made no mention of anyone being injured as a result.
The retaining wall, which runs along Barns of Woodside Road, is understood to be more than 100 years old.
Alan Russell, senior manager of housing asset management, said: ”We are deeply concerned to hear of reports of an accident at a play park in Newburgh, and have launched an immediate investigation to establish what happened.
”A detailed inspection of the wall will be carried out by a Fife Council engineer as soon as possible. In the meantime the steep ground has been fenced off as far as possible and safety signs have been erected advising the public to keep out.”
Councillor Andrew Arbuckle said: ”I would hope the structural survey will be carried out as quickly as possible to identify any problems and action taken immediately.
”And I would hope that parents will ensure that their children don’t go into the area that has been fenced off.”