Boy left unable to walk after holiday accident

Feb 11 2008 by Ben Glaze, South Wales Echo

THE family of a boy left unable to walk after a freak accident at an African hotel were offered two watches as compensation.

Kyle May-Rees, nine, was standing next to a glass door when a gust of wind smashed it shut, severing tendons in his legs.

Kyle, from Peterston-super-Ely, Vale of Glamorgan, still has little movement in his left foot six weeks after the accident in Gambia. His parents face an agonising wait for the results of an Aids test.

Mum Jann, 37, said her son had since become “introverted”. She said: “He was a very outgoing, very outspoken boy before the accident. He was actually the class clown.

“But his teacher has said since his return to school he’s become quite quiet in himself. He’s a very sports-orientated young man and he’s been told he can’t do any contact sports for at least 18 months.”

The family were at the five-star Jerma Beach Resort when the accident happened on December 20.

Mrs May-Rees had gone to a patio to take some pictures with Kyle. As she stood outside with Kyle inside the billiard room, a gust blew in, slamming the door onto Kyle and shattering the glass.

He was taken to a medical centre with his mum and dad Geoffrey, where they were told the glass had severed both tendons in his legs and he would need an operation. The family later found the wrong tendons had been joined together, leaving him with no movement in his foot.

According to the family, the hotel manager asked them to pay for the door damage before offering two “absolutely dreadful quality” watches as compensation for the injury.

Kyle will start physiotherapy this month. It could take up to two years before he can walk again. He has been tested for HIV and hepatitis to check he did not contract either in hospital.

“The next three months are going to be an absolute nightmare for us waiting for the results,” said Jann.

The hotel was unavailable for comment, but a spokeswoman for First Choice, who flew the family to Gambia and helped them after the incident, said: “Although First Choice features Jerma Beach in its brochures, the May-Rees family did not book it as a First Choice package.

“I understand our First Choice representatives were on hand to help the family in what must have been a very distressing time.”

ben.glaze@mediawales.co.uk