Boy needed surgery after falling on glass in park
An 11-year-old boy needed surgery after falling on glass and cutting his leg open while playing football at a park.
Edgar was playing in Trevor Street Park in Aberdare, Rhondda Cynon Taf, when he jumped to grab the ball and landed on broken glass.
Gwydion, 47, Edgar's dad, took the young boy to hospital where doctors said he had cut through an artery and tendons on his knee.
Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council said it is taking the matter seriously, and has arranged extra litter picks.
Warning: This report includes a image of an injured child that some people may find distressing
On 24 June, Edgar asked his parents if he could go to the park to play football with his friends.
Edgar's mum, Liisa, said: "We were preparing dinner and we told him it would be ready soon. He said he wanted to go to the park and asked if we could heat it up later, so we let him.
"The next thing we got a video call from a man, who we didn't know, telling us to come to the park as soon as we can.
"We could hear Edgar in the background shouting. It really traumatised his sister."
Gwydion, said he went straight to the park and could not believe what he saw.
"It was a fenced off area within the park where children play," he said.
"The grass was quite long and he dived to save the ball as he playing goalkeeper. He landed on the glass that nobody could see."
He took Edgar straight to hospital where doctors examined him and found he had cut an artery and knee tendons.
"Edgar had surgery on his leg the next day. He now has to wear a cast for six weeks and he can't play sport for at least three months," Liisa said.
"He was in a play which he was practising for seven months and now he can't take part in. He's also goes to secondary school next year so he's missed out on leaving activities in the last few weeks.
"When he left hospital, he was afraid to go back to the park in case anything bad happened to him again."
Liisa reported the incident to Rhondda Cynon Taf council a few days later.
When she did not receive a response, she contacted them on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"I got a reply asking for my number and when they called me, they told me that it would be 10 days before we hear back about the complaint.
"I asked them if they would like to know what park it is, so they can do something about it, and they said they would send someone out," she added.
Liisa said she had not heard from the council since.
The family has since visited the park and said while the grass has not been cut and there is still litter on the ground, they could not see glass.
The family said they wanted acknowledgement from the council for what happened.
"It's frustrating that he will miss out on the things he loves most in life, for three whole months, and it was completely unnecessary.
"Just because someone chose to break a bottle. It is heart-breaking to come to terms with for him and us.
"I wrote the complaint in Edgar's name so he can get an apology and acknowledgement for what happened so he can feel safe in the park," she said.
Liisa said the family now wanted to find the parents that helped Edgar on the day of the incident.
"The support we have received from our friends, family and the wider community has been great.
"We're very grateful to the staff at Prince Charles Hospital who took great care of him, and because of them he will make a full recovery.
"It was a really busy night and it must have really impacted the other children in the park. We would really like to speak to the two dads who helped Edgar.
"We would like to say thank you and are grateful for everything they did for him that day."
An RCT council spokesperson wished Edgar a full and speedy recovery.
They reassured the family that their concerns were escalated, and apologised if their response has not demonstrated how seriously council officials took the incident.
The council said it has now arranged for additional litter picks following anti-social behaviour issues in the park.
It said in a statement it is also working with South Wales Police, adding: "“There is never an excuse to litter and this incident just shows the horrific consequences of someone’s foolish actions."
