A teenage boy is fighting for his life in a London hospital after a horrific accident on a rope swing in a Kent woodland.
Branch Snaps in Woodland Fall
Rhys Huntley-Rowe, aged 17, was with friends in Coldblow Woods, Walmer, near Deal, on what should have been a fun day out. The group were using a rope swing when the branch it was attached to suddenly gave way. Rhys fell from a height, striking his head on tree roots below before the falling branch hit him a second time.
The impact knocked him unconscious immediately. He then began to choke on his own vomit while having a seizure, putting him in extreme danger at the scene.
Friends' Quick Thinking Saves a Life
His friends, all aged between 16 and 18, called emergency services and provided vital aid until paramedics could arrive. Their calm actions under pressure are credited with keeping Rhys alive.
"Had they not acted the way that they did, he wouldn't have made it till the ambulance arrived," said his mother, Ashley Corn, 40. "Bearing in mind, these kids are between 16 and 18. They were panicked, but they were calm as well."
The incident was so traumatic for the teenagers that police have arranged support for them.
Long Road to Recovery in London Hospital
Rhys, a motor mechanics student from Margate, was airlifted to King's College Hospital in London with serious injuries. He was placed in an induced coma but began breathing independently and responding within 24 hours.
His injuries include a fractured skull, a subdural hematoma, and bruising on the brain. Doctors initially feared neck, spine, and pelvis damage, but scans ruled those out. He remains in intensive care.
"He's had a double impact on his head," Mrs Corn explained. "He's smashing all the targets the doctors set, but his future still hangs in the balance."
The teenager has developed a blood clot and is on blood thinners. He is disoriented, confused, and is being fed through a nasal tube. "We're not sure if there's going to be any brain damage right now because he's still not quite coherent," his mother added.
Family's Agony and Financial Strain
Mrs Corn was on a day trip in London when she received the devastating call. Her husband left work to meet the air ambulance in Walmer and accompany their son to the hospital.
"Sitting in the relatives' room was the longest. It felt like a lifetime," she said. "Just sitting there, not knowing what condition my child was in. It was horrible and felt like an eternity."
The family now faces the logistical and financial strain of staying in London. They have been using expensive hotels and Airbnbs, with no clear timeline for Rhys's discharge.
To help with accommodation and travel costs from Margate, a GoFundMe page has been set up by his cousin, Michelle Huntley.
