A 12-YEAR-OLD boy has been taken to hospital with a serious head injury after falling 40ft from a shopping centre escalator today (Monday).

The accident happened at the Galleria outlet shopping complex in Comet Way, Hatfield, just before 2.30pm.

Ambulance crews from WGC and Letchworth were called to the scene, along with an anaesthetist from the QE2 Hospital.

East of England Ambulance spokesman Gary Sanderson said: “One of our emergency care practitioners, Mark Giddens, who was first at the scene, quickly recognised the patient was in a serious condition.

“Due to this, [anaesthetist] Dr Martyn Wildman arrived and worked closely with the paramedics to treat, stabilise and immobilise the injured boy.”

He was taken to the QE2 Hospital, where he is described as being in a stable condition.

A spokeswoman for the Galleria said: “We can confirm that an incident took place this afternoon where a child fell from one of the centre’s escalators.

“Trained first aid staff were immediately on hand to assist, closely followed by local paramedics.

“The safety of our customers and employees is paramount and we take all incidents very seriously. Our thoughts are with the child and his family.”