School is meant to be a safe place, a place where children learn, laugh, and grow together. But sometimes, what starts as a “bit of fun” on the playground can quickly turn into something serious. This is exactly what happened to 11-year-old William.

A regular school day that changed everything

One day in June 2021, William was enjoying a normal lunchtime at his primary school. Like most children his age, he was full of energy, heading out to play with friends.

Without warning, another pupil ran up from behind and pushed William to the ground. Before William could get up, the child jumped onto his back causing him to scream out in agony.

What might have started as a harmless prank caused severe injuries to William’s arm, so bad that he needed surgery and metal plates to help it heal.

Over the months that followed, William had multiple hospital visits and needed more surgery to remove the metal work.

This was more than just a playground accident, it was a traumatic event that changed the way William felt about school, safety, and even himself.

The emotional impact

Before the incident, William was a happy, active child. His mother described him as generally healthy, though he was being assessed for mild autism and ADHD. After the incident, however, everything changed.

The normally happy schoolboy suffered from flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. He was easily startled, found it hard to sleep, and was frightened to leave the house. William relived the accident in his mind again and again, classic signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Even months later, William was still battling these symptoms. His concentration at school suffered, and he avoided any games or sports that could involve physical contact. Doctors later confirmed that William’s psychological trauma came entirely from that single incident.

Why this matters

Children don’t always understand the potential consequences of their actions. A shove, a prank, or a rough game can cause serious physical harm, and emotional wounds that last long after the bruises heal. Repeatedly inflicting these on another child moves from being a prank to something far more.

For children like William, who may already face developmental or behavioural challenges, these experiences can be even more distressing. What one child thinks is a joke may deeply traumatise another.

Parents, teachers, and students all play a role in helping prevent these kinds of incidents.

• Talk to children about respect and boundaries.
• Teach empathy, help them understand how their actions affect others.
• Encourage schools to supervise playgrounds carefully and take all reports of bullying or rough play seriously.

Healing and hope

William’s recovery has been slow but steady. With professional help, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) designed for children, he’s made great progress.

Although he still feels anxious at times, William is showing strength and resilience. His story is a reminder that with support, understanding, and time, children can heal, both physically and emotionally.

Final thoughts

William’s mum decided to take action against the local authority as she’d already complained to the school about the other boy. There had been a few altercations between the two boys over the past two years, but despite the mum’s pleas, nothing was done about it.

Our legal team worked with William’s mum, as his litigation friend, to gather evidence. Although full liability was denied, the local authority agreed to a five-figure out of court settlement.

No child should go through what William did. Schoolyard pranks might seem harmless in the moment, but they can have lifelong consequences. Sometimes, one push is all it takes to change a child’s life forever.

If your child has suffered injury in any setting, contact us in complete confidence. You can call 01302 320621 or email your details to help@switalskis.com