A TODDLER was airlifted to hospital and needed nine staples in his head after falling through a banister in the stairwell of a block of flats.

The three-year-old, who struggles with his balance after suffering a stroke as a baby, fell headfirst from the first floor staircase in the Bainbridge Flats, in Pitsea.

He was rushed to Basildon Hospital via air ambulance where the wound was stapled together.

The youngster was walking up the stairs with his dad on Wednesday when he fell through a small gap between the rails on the staircase.

The boy’s mum, who asked not to be identified, had previously complained the staircase is unsafe for children and described it as “the worst day of her life.”

The mum of three said: “It was awful, I came out to see blood everywhere, all over the banisters, walls and floor. The hospital let him go Wednesday night.

“I’m keeping a close eye on him, he needs medicine every three hours and it’s been a big shock for him

“My son often falls over due to his health condition, the banister in the flat complex is unsafe for him.

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“The ambulance man picked up on the health and safety issues with the flat whilst dealing with my son. The situation is very frustrating as I’ve been complaining for a while that it’s not safe for my son to live here.

“This isn’t the only issue I’ve had here, I’ve also had mould and mushrooms growing in the bedrooms and a huge leak.”

Peabody housing association, which manages the property, said: “We are deeply sorry to hear about this incident and hope that the child is ok.

“We’ve been looking into this and are in contact with Basildon Council who own Bainbridge Flats in Pitsea to investigate what has happened.

“We will be working with the council to ensure the communal area is safe.

“We have also reached out to the family to see if we can provide any further support.”