Doting father tells of sledging horror

But their exciting outing turned to horror when the 35-year-old sped down a hill and smashed into an embankment, fracturing his spine in three places. Today the roofing contracts manager said he wanted to thank the ambulance workers, firefighters, mountain rescue team, police and a member of the public who all came to his aid.

They fought for three hours to get him to hospital from Baggeridge Country Park.

Mr Bateman, of Talbot Place, Bilston, said his seven-year-old son Oliver had been fed up that his school, Villiers Primary in Prouds Lane, was one of the only ones still open when snow fell on February 3.

He said: "Oliver didn't think it was fair that he had to go to school when all his friends were free to play outside.

"I promised him that to make it up to him I would take him sledging as soon as I got home from work. It was 4.30pm when we got to Baggeridge so we were in a hurry to get some sledging in before the park closed at 5pm.

"From the top of the hill I decided to go first to make sure it was safe. I saw a patch of brown at the bottom and thought it was just a bit of mud – it turned out to be an embankment and I crashed straight into it."

Mr Bateman's horrified wife Nicola, aged 32, and Oliver raced down to where Mr Bateman lay and called for an ambulance. Another sledger, who gave his name as Justin, gave Nicola his fleece and waited with the family while help came.

Ambulance crews found they were unable to reach the hill where Mr Bateman lay and so had to summon the Staffordshire Police helicopter. It was three hours before he was admitted to Selly Oak Hospital where he stayed for two weeks.

Doctors believe Mr Bateman's time spent lying in the snow may have helped ease the trauma to his back. He is now wearing a back brace and on crutches but is determined to be walking again as soon as possible.

He added: "Oliver wants to climb Scafell Pike to raise money for his school fund. We said we would go in June and I will do my best to be fit for that."