Teen fighting for life after concrete pipe topples onto him in Durham

Emergency services were called to Bellway’s Sniperley Park DH1 development on Thursday (April 16) after reports a person had been injured just before 1pm. 

Durham Police has confirmed that a 17-year-old suffered head and neck injuries after a concrete pipe toppled onto him. 

The teen was given first aid at the scene before being taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle by ambulance crews. 

He remains there in a serious condition. 

The force said his family are being supported by specialist police officers. 

The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) have both confirmed they attended the scene on Thursday. 

The Health and Safety Executive has also confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident and that it is working alongside Durham Police. 

HSE inspectors attended the site on April 16.

A NEAS spokesperson said: “We received a call at 12.49pm on Thursday, April 16, to reports of a person injured at an address on Sniperley Farm Road in Durham. 

“We dispatched an ambulance crew, a specialist paramedic, two clinical team leaders, and a duty officer to the scene, and requested support from our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who attended by road. 

“We transported one patient to the RVI for further treatment.”

A Great North Air Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “Our critical care team was activated at 12.59pm to reports of an industrial incident at Sniperley Park in Durham.

“We had two paramedics and a doctor on a rapid response vehicle and they arrived on scene at 1.28pm.

”Our team worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) to assess and treat a patient.

“The patient was taken to hospital by a NEAS road crew, accompanied by our team.”

A HSE spokesperson said: “We are investigating this incident alongside our colleagues at Durham Police.”

The Northern Echo has contacted Bellway for comment.