Teenager impaled on iron railings

Steven Whale, of Copyground Lane, High Wycombe, was cut from the railings in All Saints churchyard shortly after 1.30am on Saturday.

It is believed he had slipped while trying to climb over the fence and was impaled on the side of his right leg.

He was taken to Wycombe Hospital, but died at around 8am on Saturday.

His family were told by police that Steven, a former Highcrest School pupil, had possibly tried to jump the fence to get into the Antelope pub in Church Square.

Tributes

TRIBUTES have been paid to the surgeons and emergency crews who tried desperately to save Steven Whale's life on Saturday, by his parents.

Steven, 19, was operated on at Wycombe Hospital for around four hours following the accident.

He had become impaled on fence railings in All Saints churchyard, off Castle Street, in the early hours and died around 8am on Saturday.

His father, Kevin Whale, said his son had suffered a heart attack in hospital as a result of his injuries.

He said: "We'd like to thank Wycombe fire brigade and Wycombe Hospital who did their best for him. He died in intensive care, I believe."

Steven had been cut free from the railings by two fire crews shortly after 1.30am. He was then taken to Wycombe Hospital by ambulance.

Andy Ward, watch manager at High Wycombe Fire Station, said it took around two to three minutes to cut Steven free. Part of the railings had to be left attached to him which is normal in such cases, he said.

He added: "I have been doing this job for 28 years and it is always a sad time when we don't save somebody.

"Sometimes there is nothing we can do, but you carry on and we are carrying on."

Dan McKenzie was drinking in The Antelope's pub garden when the incident unfolded.

The 23-year-old who works at the Sony Centre in High Street, High Wycombe, said: "I was out in the garden and then people were shouting and stuff. I looked up and there were loads of cops down there and people inside the pub said there was a guy who was impaled.

"I could just see it in the distance but couldn't get close to it."

Rev Nicky Tottle, a minister at All Saints Church, said: "We pass our prayers and condolences to his family and friends. The church yard is well used by all sorts of people and we try very hard to make it a public space which people can enjoy - but accidents can happen.

"If we can support his family in any way we will do that."

Steven, of Copyground Lane, High Wycombe, was a former Highcrest School pupil. He left after taking his GCSEs.

Ian Newton, deputy head at the school in Hatters Lane, said: "Everyone at the school is very sad and shocked especially at such a horrible accident.

"He was a well liked, popular student, who had got on well with staff and had many friends at the school."

Steven also leaves behind his sisters, Sarah, 23, and Emma, 17, his brothers, Jack, eight, and Alex, five, his half-brother, Sean, 13, and step-sister Nicole, 16.

On leaving school he had begun an apprenticeship in motor mechanics and later took a job as a digger driver with sub contractors, A Day Recycling Group Ltd.

Aaron Day, 38, his boss, said: "He was really popular with all the other workers. It didn't matter what the weather was like - he always had a smile on his face and was always happy. He's going to be sorely missed."

His family said he had a passion for motorbikes and was also fond of Manchester United FC and hip-hop music. As a youngster, he attended Holy Trinity School in Marlow and Booker Hill School in Field Road.

Devastated

THE parents of Steven Whale, who died after becoming impaled on railings, have spoken of their grief at the loss of their happy-go-lucky son'.

His dad says he believes his son was trying to jump the fence to get into the Antelope pub in High Wycombe town centre when the accident happened.

The 19-year-old from Coypground Lane, High Wycombe, was believed to have slipped and fallen on the railings lining the rear of All Saints churchyard.

Firefighters cut him free at 1.30am on Saturday and he was operated on for four hours, but later died at around 8am.

His father, Kevin Whale, 43, said he had been told by police that his son was probably trying to get into the nearby pub.

He said: "Steven went to The Antelope pub with a friend, but because he had already been out drinking the bouncers wouldn't let him in.

"So the friend that he was with went in and Steven said I will be in in ten minutes' - and went round the back to jump the fence. He slipped and impaled himself."

Kevin, of Lacey Green, said Steven had severed an artery in his leg. He remained unconscious at the church yard and suffered a heart-attack later on in hospital.

Eight firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to remove Steven from the fence after a passerby had spotted him.

Ambulance crews were first on the scene at 1.28am, but say they do not know how long Steven had been suspended on the railings before they were called.

His mum, Lynda Whale, 43, of Copyground Lane, said: "He meant everything to me. He was my eldest son."

Kevin, a forklift truck driver, added: "We are just devastated at what has happened to him - he was only 19.

"He was just a real good natured person who would help anybody and he was happy in his life.

"He was the typical teenager. He would enjoy himself and that is what he was - a happy-go-lucky lad."

Yesterday David Burr, Managing Director of the Cavalier Pub Company, which owns the Antelope, confirmed that they had turned him away.

Steven, who also used to attend Booker Hill School in Field Road, worked as a digger driver for sub contractors at the High Heavens recycling centre in Booker and the Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Amersham.

He was a regular at the Flint Cottage pub in Amersham Hill, High Wycombe, and his friends left Stella Artois bottles at the scene in tribute. The beer was his favourite, his family said.

Family and friends also visited the churchyard at the weekend to leave flowers.

Police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and a post-mortem is set to be carried out today.

Mr Whale added: "It is a tragic accident. We are all devastated."