A TEENAGE boy is undergoing surgery after being impaled on fencing by his wrist.

Promising young cricketer Andy Hough, aged 15, was playing in the grounds of Astley Bridge Cricket Club when the accident happened after practice.

He slipped on scaffolding and a piece of security fencing spike pierced his wrist and went into his palm.

He was left dangling nine inches from the ground for 20 minutes.

And it was only the quick thinking of off duty fireman Andy Barker who was enjoying a drink at the club, that saved the boy from more serious injury.

The teenager, who plays junior cricket for the club, had been enjoying an evening with his brother Stuart, mum Maureen and dad Martyn, watching the Manchester United v Real Madrid match in the clubhouse.

Shortly after 10.30pm Andy and group of others were playing hide and seek.

He was hiding near security fencing installed around the lower sections of scaffolding on the car park perimeter when he slipped and his wrist became impaled.

Mr Barker, who is a member of the club, was in the bar when one of the teenagers came in asking for help.

"Then another one came in saying they needed to call an ambulance. I went out and saw Andy hanging from the fence," he said.

Andy had slipped on scaffolding erected alongside the cricket club car park while roofing work was done at Thornleigh College where the teenager is a pupil.

Fiirefighter Mr Barker, who has 18 years' experience and who is trained in dealing with traumas, immediately went to support the boy's hand and got other people to take his weight.

At around 5ft 6in tall, Andy was perched on his tip toes dangling by the wrist from the two metre

high galvanised welded mesh fence.

Mr Barker said: "I got a chair and stood him on it and then kept his hand still. Meanwhile I called the ambulance and explained the situation to them. Then I called the fire brigade and told them what equipment we would need.

"I could see Andy was in shock, he was starting to go pale. His injury looked bad but there was not a lot of blood."

When a fire crew arrived -- from Andy's own Blue watch at Bolton North in Crompton Way -- they gave the boy oxygen and then used bolt cutters to snip away a piece of the fencing.

"When the ambulance crew arrived they asked us to cut more off. Andy was taken to hospital with a piece of the fence still in his hand. I am just glad I was there and knew what to do. it could have been a lot worse if someone had tried to lift him off," said Mr Barker.

Andy was transferred from Bolton Hospital to Wythenshawe where was having an operation this morning.

Bolton North sub officer Mick Gannon who went to the scene said: "Andy Barker was holding the boy's steady. It was very fortunate that he was there."

Andy's father, of Hillbank Close, Halliwell, said : "His mum stayed with him overnight in Wythenshawe Hospital and he is expected to have surgery today to remove the quarter inch diameter spike.

"He's a left arm bowler and unfortunately the injury is to his left hand, but all being well we've been told he'll be home in time to watch Saturday's match -- although he won't be able to play."