EIGHT-year-old Oliver Grant has said a big thank you to heroes who came to his rescue when he took a bad tumble out of a tree during an autumn walk.

The Blackrod Primary School pupil was out with his mum and schoolfriend in Anglezarke on Sunday enjoying one of his favourite past times – tree climbing - when the accident happened.

He was helped by Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team, who worked alongside paramedics, including a volunteer paramedic, to get him the urgent medical attention he needed.

Oliver said: “They were brilliant. They helped me and I am fine. They are amazing.”

Mum Kat saw the fall out of the tree and as a GP knew he would need help from the emergency services – who called on the expertise of Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team (BPMRT).

She said: “Oliver is a climber, just like his dad and this time the branch was a little smaller than normal and broke and he fell three metres.

“The branch was overhanging a dip which he fell into.

“He landed on his head and twisted his back and was in pain. I am a GP and knew he needed to be seen because of the injuries he had.”

Friend Nicola McCormick, along with her daughter, Rosie, aged six and Oliver's brother Harrison, aged five, went to alert the emergency services.

Nicola's other Lauren stayed with Kat until help arrived.

“Lauren was amazing, just speaking to him,” said Kat who also works with Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

The team carefully brought and stretchered Oliver to safety while paramedics administered gas and air.

He was taken to Preston hospital and fortunately the energetic youngster had not sustained any serious injuries.

Kat said “He is still a bit sore but is fine.

“I am so grateful to the mountain rescue service and the amazing work they do, they are volunteers who give up their time.

“I do work alongside Bolton Mountain Rescue but don’t go out with them, just help in giving advice and with training, but what they do and the paramedic volunteers are just amazing. You never know when you are going to need them and they are there for you.”

A spokesman for Bowland and Pennine Mountain Rescue Team said: “Team members were quickly on scene and after a check over by our team doctor he was placed in a full body vacuum splint and then stretchered to an ambulance.

“We wish him a speedy recovery.”