THE mum of a 12-year-old boy who fell through the roof of Parr Swimming Baths has shared her son’s story to warn others of the potential dangers.

Ben Smith, from Parr, climbed on to the roof of the swimming baths with his friends on the evening of Sunday, June 23,

What happened next will stay with Ben for the rest of his life, as he stood up on the skylight and fell through.

After hitting a beam during his fall, he hit the side of the pool and the water.

Helpless and unable to swim, he managed to pull himself out of the pool and wait for help.

In hospital he was diagnosed with a broken back, femur and ankle. He also shattered an elbow.

Now his family want to warn others about the dangers of climbing on buildings and encourage more security in the area.

His mum Danielle Glover, 30, who is currently pregnant with her fourth child, said: “We have been told that Ben is lucky to be alive.

“When I got told what happened my head just went into a blur and I got to the swimming baths as quickly as I could.

“I was surrounded by so many people. I said I was his mum but at first they wouldn’t let me in. I didn’t know if he was alive.

“Eventually they let me in and he was screaming and got rushed to Alder Hey.

“He’d apparently climbed on the roof the day before to get his football, so the next day they thought they’d go on again and that happened.

“He was so lucky he didn’t hit his head, apparently he hit the bar and that pushed him more towards the water, otherwise he would have hit the concrete. He said that as he fell he had me, his stepdad and his brothers and sister in his mind.

“He’s had to have a 13 hour operation on his elbow, which the specialists said shattered like an egg shell. He has a broken back and has to wear a back brace all day.

“Environmental Health came round to talk to him and they even said that many cases like this result in the person dying.

“That night was the worst night of my life, I’m just so grateful he is all right. He knows what he did, and he’s paying for it now.

“He can’t get upstairs and I’ve got to help him.

“He will heal, but this will affect him forever. He’ll get arthritis in his elbow and probably always have problems with his back.

“What happened to him could happen to anyone. Kids climb, but it’s not worth it.”

The main pool of Parr Swimming Baths has now reopened.