Evesham school pupil talks of screwdriver stab attack
A boy who was stabbed with a screwdriver by a classmate at a school in Evesham has described the attack.
Ben Townsend, 13, was stabbed with a 3in (7.5cm) long screwdriver in a classroom quarrel with a pupil at Simon De Montfort Middle School on Wednesday.
He said: "I didn't realise what had happened until I was told by one of the teachers. I just thought I had been hit in the back."
The alleged attacker has been arrested and released on bail.
Speaking soon after the attack Ben's father Richard said: "I got a phone call at about 2.30pm to say could I go to the school immediately, Ben wanted me.
"She said there has been an incident and Ben has been stabbed.
"I just jumped in the car and flew to the school which is literally five minutes from here.
"He was in a lot of shock, there were police cars everywhere, there were paramedics there, they had him sat in the head teacher's office with all the sticky tabs on him and the oxygen mask on him, testing his blood and lungs and everything.
"It was pretty frightening because I didn't really know what had happened. Nor did anyone really."
Mr Townsend said his son had never had any problems at school before.
The school said the boys had been quarrelling during a practical lesson and Ben had been stabbed with the screwdriver.
His father said he was cut about two inches (5cm) below his left shoulder blade into his muscle.
Head teacher Caroline Brown said the school had taken "appropriate action".
Ben said he had been looking forward to performing in a school dance production on Friday.
He said: "We were doing a good routine, one of the best dances we have ever produced in this school.
"I probably won't be in it now but I still want to go and see how they get on."
West Mercia Police said a boy who was arrested in connection with the attack had been released on police bail pending further investigation.