Probe call into Blackburn boy’s ‘eye injury’

Muhammad Parkar had been playing a game of catch ball with a tennis ball on all-weather pitches, known as the Cage, with welfare assistants when the incident happened at St Stephen’s C of E Primary School, Blackburn.

Headteacher Eileen Don has referred the issue to the school’s solicitors.

In a letter to Muhammad’s mum Yasmin Parkar, Mrs Don said the school was sorry that Muhammad has been ‘diagnosed as having permanent eye damage’.

Describing the incident, the letter said: “The welfare assistant threw the tennis ball into the air for Muhammad and then, as the assistant was throwing balls for the other children, the assistant did not see if Muhammad caught the ball or not.

“The welfare assistant then became aware that Muhammad was lying on the floor, and went to investigate.

"The welfare assistant realised that he was ill and put him in the recovery position.”

The letter added: “The staff in the Cage dealing with Muhammad decided to call for an ambulance as, although Muhammad never lost consciousness, we did not know what happened to him and were concerned for him.

“The welfare assistant, accompanied by two staff, then brought Muhammad back to the school. Muhammad was again put into the recovery position.”

Mrs Parkar, from Little Harwood, said that after an examination at Royal Blackburn Hospital following the incident in May, doctors told her Muhammad had been left with a tear in his pupil, a flat retina and a perforated eardrum.

Mrs Parkar said: “I was shocked to see him. After the incident he had stomach aches, headaches, ear ache and was off school for six weeks.

“I want to know what happened to my son – he doesn’t remember – and I feel I have had no support from the school.

"I am just told he fell ‘ill’ during the game.

“It is a stressful situation."

Mrs Don said: “The matter is in the hands of our solicitors and as such it is not appropriate to comment.”