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Propeller leg boy Cian Wyn Williams has 700 stitches | Propeller leg boy Cian Wyn Williams has 700 stitches |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A 13-year-old boy has had nearly 700 stitches to save his right leg after it was caught in a speedboat's propeller. | A 13-year-old boy has had nearly 700 stitches to save his right leg after it was caught in a speedboat's propeller. |
Cian Wyn Williams, from Porthmadog, Gwynedd, has spoken about the accident, which happened as he was trying to climb back into the boat from the sea. | Cian Wyn Williams, from Porthmadog, Gwynedd, has spoken about the accident, which happened as he was trying to climb back into the boat from the sea. |
Paramedics feared he would lose the leg and surgeons at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor prepared for an amputation. | Paramedics feared he would lose the leg and surgeons at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor prepared for an amputation. |
But the teenager is learning to walk again after a four-hour operation though he may be left with a limp. | But the teenager is learning to walk again after a four-hour operation though he may be left with a limp. |
Cian was with his older brother Marcus, 18, and three friends at the harbour in Porthmadog when the group was invited onto the boat by its owner. | Cian was with his older brother Marcus, 18, and three friends at the harbour in Porthmadog when the group was invited onto the boat by its owner. |
The group set off to Pwllheli for fuel for the boat and on the return journey stopped at Borth y Gest for some of the boys to swim. | The group set off to Pwllheli for fuel for the boat and on the return journey stopped at Borth y Gest for some of the boys to swim. |
Cian had already jumped off the boat once and climbed up the ladder at the rear, close to the engine, which the boat owner had switched off. | Cian had already jumped off the boat once and climbed up the ladder at the rear, close to the engine, which the boat owner had switched off. |
He jumped off a second time and was approaching the ladder again when he said the boat was being pushed towards rocks and owner tried to move it away. | He jumped off a second time and was approaching the ladder again when he said the boat was being pushed towards rocks and owner tried to move it away. |
He told BBC Wales: "Some water bikes had gone past and made waves. The waves were pushing the boat towards the rocks. I was swimming to get back in the boat and the man's phone rang. | He told BBC Wales: "Some water bikes had gone past and made waves. The waves were pushing the boat towards the rocks. I was swimming to get back in the boat and the man's phone rang. |
'Conscious' | 'Conscious' |
"He was talking on the phone and did not realise. He reversed onto my leg. | "He was talking on the phone and did not realise. He reversed onto my leg. |
"I was just shocked more than anything. I wasn't sure if it was real or not. I thought I was dreaming. | "I was just shocked more than anything. I wasn't sure if it was real or not. I thought I was dreaming. |
"The propeller started sucking me under the water. He shut the engine off before it sucked me under. | "The propeller started sucking me under the water. He shut the engine off before it sucked me under. |
"My brother grabbed me and put a towel around my leg. He stopped the blood coming out." | "My brother grabbed me and put a towel around my leg. He stopped the blood coming out." |
With Marcus holding the blood-soaked towel, the group sped back to Porthmadog where paramedics were waiting. | With Marcus holding the blood-soaked towel, the group sped back to Porthmadog where paramedics were waiting. |
Cian was taken to hospital by helicopter. He remembers one of the emergency team telling the hospital to "prepare for an amputation". | Cian was taken to hospital by helicopter. He remembers one of the emergency team telling the hospital to "prepare for an amputation". |
Yet he remained conscious throughout his ordeal last month and talked to the medical team as they X-rayed his leg and performed surgery. | |
'Healing' | 'Healing' |
Surgeons used more than 600 stitches to reattach ligament and muscle in his leg as well as putting in another 85 stitches from thigh to ankle. | Surgeons used more than 600 stitches to reattach ligament and muscle in his leg as well as putting in another 85 stitches from thigh to ankle. |
Cian is now back at home but faces another operation to connect a ligament to restore more movement to his foot. | Cian is now back at home but faces another operation to connect a ligament to restore more movement to his foot. |
He has been back to have the cast taken off to check on how the leg is healing, and says he found that a difficult time. | He has been back to have the cast taken off to check on how the leg is healing, and says he found that a difficult time. |
He said: "It was more painful to see it that it actually is. I have lost some skin and lost some feeling in my leg. The foot is stiff at the moment. I have gone through a ligament. | He said: "It was more painful to see it that it actually is. I have lost some skin and lost some feeling in my leg. The foot is stiff at the moment. I have gone through a ligament. |
"You could see that it was healing but for me it was not a pretty sight. It's swollen as well. | "You could see that it was healing but for me it was not a pretty sight. It's swollen as well. |
"It did upset me to see it but hopefully I will be up on my feet in about six weeks." | "It did upset me to see it but hopefully I will be up on my feet in about six weeks." |
The favourite sport Cian played at Ysgol Eifionydd before the accident was rugby. | The favourite sport Cian played at Ysgol Eifionydd before the accident was rugby. |
'Ankle and foot' | 'Ankle and foot' |
He said: "That's out for a while but I don't think it's over. I think I will be playing again." | He said: "That's out for a while but I don't think it's over. I think I will be playing again." |
His mother, Sharron, said: "It's been very traumatic. Cian seems to be settling down now. He went through the ankle and foot more than anything. | His mother, Sharron, said: "It's been very traumatic. Cian seems to be settling down now. He went through the ankle and foot more than anything. |
"All going well, he should be walking again. The worst-case scenario is that he will have a limp but that is nothing compared to what it could be. | "All going well, he should be walking again. The worst-case scenario is that he will have a limp but that is nothing compared to what it could be. |
"It's going to be a long journey but he will get there." | "It's going to be a long journey but he will get there." |
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