Mother slams lack of assistance as daughter is hurt in Old Leigh (From Echo)

Mother slams lack of assistance as daughter is hurt in Old Leigh

6:00am Tuesday 30th June 2009 in

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A MUM whose daughter was injured on a popular beach is calling for better supervision there during the summer months.

Joanne Robinson was horrified when Abbie, six, slipped while paddling at the beach in OId Leigh, and was left with a large cut to her backside.

The accident occurred during a day trip to the family- favourite beach on Saturday afternoon.

Joanne, 42, of Ravenscourt Drive, Vange, said: “All of a sudden I heard Abbie screaming.

“She had slipped down a concrete slab on the beach, and was covered in blood.

“I rushed over to the first aid hut to get some help, but it was shut.

“I couldn’t believe it – the beach was crowded with youngsters, and it was 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

“What if Abbie or one of the other kids had fallen and hit their heads or been seriously hurt?”

A passer by managed to stem Abbie’s blood flow with a bandage, before Joanne and the rest of her family rushed the youngster to Basildon Hospital.

Joanne said: “We were in A&E for about five hours – to be honest I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many children in a hospital casualty unit.

“Obviously there were a lot of accidents that day.”

Abbie needed several stitches, and was told she will have to have a week off from lessons at Bardfield Primary School, in Vange, while she recovers.

Annoyed Joanne added: “They go on about health and safety rules all the time, stopping kids from playing games in case they trip up, but then in the height of summer on a crowded beach there’s nobody to help.

“What’s the point in having a first aid hut if there’s going to be nobody in it when you need them?”

Joanne has contacted Leigh Town Council to call for stepping up supervision at the St John Abulance first aid hut.

Geoff Fulford, clerk of Leigh Town Council, said the council would be looking into Mrs Robinson’s concerns, and would be contacting the family to discuss the issue.

He added: “The first aid hut is manned at weekends during school holidays and at special times, such as Easter.

“Unfortunately, we just don’t have the funds to get trained St John Ambulance people to man it round the clock.”