A BOY impaled on a bike lever wants a new one for Christmas.

Ten-year-old Brendan Orr had been cycling on his BMX–type bike in Northallerton at about 1.50pm on Sunday afternoon.

But as he cycled across Ashlands Road with his friend, the handlebars spun around, pulling him forward and impaling his leg on the brake lever. 

The youngster fell to the ground in agony and had to wait for help. 

His quick-thinking, seven-year-old friend, Matthew Griffiths, raced home to get help and his mother alerted the emergency services and Brendan’s mum. 

The Northern Echo:

Recovering: Brendan Orr

Fire crews from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue had to use cutting tools to cut the brake lever from the bike, leaving it embedded in his leg. He was then air-lifted to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough and was taken into theatre, where a surgeon removed the bicycle part.

The Northern Echo:

Brendan's leg after the lever was successfully removed

Thankfully, Brendan, a pupil at Allerton Primary School, quickly bounced back from the traumatic accident and was discharged from hospital on Monday. His mother, Lisa, said they were now looking forward to a quiet Christmas at home.

“Brendan is fine now; he has handled it extremely well; it was me who fell apart,” she said.

Brendan was soon surrounded by fire crews, police the air ambulance helicopter and paramedics, trying to free him from the bike.  “He was in shock”, said his mother, Lisa Orr.

“But he was only screaming when people were pulling on the bike to try and work out what was wrong. Other than that he was very calm and as quiet as a mouse. 

“I was all over the place. I was phoned and told what had happened and I came running out, my heart in my mouth.

“There was nothing I could do to help him. You have to let other people do their job to help your son; I couldn’t do anything. That was the worst part; feeling helpless.”

“The only time he was really scared was when he was going into theatre. We also had to bribe him to go into the helicopter, as he was scared to go in it. But once he was in there he said it was amazing, he loved it.

“Eventually he will get back on a bike. He wants a new bike now.”