A YOUNG boy's hand was severed after a wall collapsed while he was enjoying the weather with his family.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to a house in Beach Street in Askam at around 7pm on Saturday.

A garden wall had collapsed while a number of youngsters were gathered to have their photograph taken.

One boy, a five-year-old, had his hand cut off at the wrist during what firefighters described as a "freak accident".

 It's one of the worst jobs we've even been to... It's going to be a long recovery for the poor lad 

Cumbria Fire and Rescue's south operations commander Stuart Dolan, who was called to the incident along with a crew from Ulverston, said it was "one of the worst jobs" his firefighters had ever been called to.

"The garden wall came down on top of the little boy, it was a freak accident," the fire boss said.

"The paramedics had arrived just before us, the little boy was still conscious, the stone was that sharp it went clean through his wrist. It was so traumatic for everyone involved.

"I took his stepdad to the hospital under blues and twos, he was in tears, it was horrendous. Everyone was so emotional.

"He is in Alder Hey at the moment, the last update we had was that they had spent seven and-a-half hours in surgery re-attaching his hand."

The fire crew were sent to what they were told was a report of an "unsafe structure" after a 999 call was made at around 7pm on Saturday.

Mr Dolan said the firefighters who were called to the job were among those traumatised by the incident.

"I sat with them until 11.30pm at night it's one of the worst jobs we've even been to," he said.

"We are hoping to be able to go and visit the little boy when he returns to Furness General Hospital. It's going to be a long recovery for the poor lad."

Sandra Hadwick, a councillor on Askam and Ireleth Parish Council, lives in Beach Street and said she saw the ambulance and fire engine racing down the road.

"It's absolutely terrible," she said.

"It must be devastating for them. Our thoughts are with the little boy and his family."