Boy swallows scissors but amazes his family and doctors by suffering just minor cuts

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:11 PM on 5th November 2010

This shocking X-ray shows how a 12-year-old boy had a lucky escape after he swallowed a pair of nail scissors, but suffered only minor cuts.

Curtis Francis, who suffers from learning difficulties which affect his sense of danger, escaped with the minor injury after he put the scissors down his throat handle first when his mother's back was turned.

Luckily the object did not block his airway, and when his mother discovered he was coughing blood, she immediately dialled 999.

Curtis was then taken by ambulance to Bristol Royal Infirmary where doctors removed the scissors under general anesthetic, and afterwards said he was extremely lucky not to suffer serious injury or permanent damage.

He has now made a full recovery from his ordeal, but mother Karon Edwards said she didn't realise at first how serious it was.

She said: 'I just thought he had swallowed a pen lid but I knew something was wrong when he started coughing up blood and making panicked noises.

'By the time the ambulance arrived both me and my son were in tears. When we got to the hospital and we were told it was scissors I was so, so worried.

'Curtis is a multi-needs child and doesn't have any sense of danger so I have to watch him all the time.

The incident occurred on August 11 when Karon went to put the kettle on at their home in Bristol and left her son alone.

Curtis then picked up the scissors and placed them in his mouth.

When she returned Curtis, who cannot talk due to his disability, was making distressed noises, and had stared to cough blood.

Karon then dialled 999 and Curtis was rushed to hospital, where the X-ray revealed he had swallowed the scissors.

Karon continued: 'It was the worst day of my life. It was such a nightmare. I am even more careful with him now but it is very difficult because he is getting older.'

'It was absolutely horrendous. I didn't know you could swallow scissors so it came as a huge shock.'

From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1326687/Curtis-Francis-swallows-scissors-suffers-just-minor-cuts.html