Two quick-thinking York youngsters came to the rescue when the younger brother of one accidentally impaled himself on spiked railings at his city school.

Cool-headed Scott Greaves, 14, and Matthew Ambler, 12, sprang into action when Scott's 11-year-old brother Paul skewered his arm on railings at Scarcroft Primary School, in Moss Street, York.

The drama unfolded as the trio were playing football on neighbouring Scarcroft Green and their ball went into the school playground.

As Paul climbed over a gate to retrieve the ball, he slipped and was left dangling from a spike railing through his upper arm.

He said: "I was just hanging there and trying to get my feet onto the padlock so I could stand up. I shouted 'help' to my brother and he lifted me off. I felt nothing at first but once I was down the pain started."

The spike had ripped through his arm detaching about a third of his flesh, but luckily it missed vital nerves and the bone.

When they saw how serious his injury was, Matthew immediately called an ambulance on his mobile phone while Scott called his mother Liz on his phone and helped his brother.

Only weeks before, Paul had been taken part in Crucial Crew, at Huntington Stadium - a safety event involving the emergency services which teaches youngsters how to respond to crises - and so knew to hold his arm in the air to help stem the bleeding. His father Les, a nurse, had also taught his sons basic first aid.

Paramedics were soon on the scene on Friday and Paul was rushed to York District Hospital before being transferred to St James's Hospital in Leeds for emergency surgery.

He was released yesterday but must return on Friday to find out if he needs a skin graft to fully repair the damage.

He said: "I was really pleased with what Scott and Matthew did for me. If they hadn't been there it would have been a lot worse."

Mr Greaves said: "Paul was quite traumatised at first but he's been very brave about it all. Scott and Matthew were great. They handled the situation really well."

Updated: 08:29 Tuesday, April 17, 2001