A 17-year-old boy is fighting for his life after a fall from a homemade rope swing in Coldblow Woods, Southeast London, on December 17, 2025. Rhys Huntley-Rowe, of Margate, Kent, sustained a severe skull fracture and was initially placed in a medically induced coma following the incident. The accident underscores the dangers of unsupervised recreational activities and makeshift structures. his family is facing a long road to recovery alongside mounting expenses as he undergoes treatment at King’s College Hospital.
A 17-year-old is in intensive care after a serious fall in Coldblow Woods, Southeast London. He sustained a skull fracture and was initially comatose, but is now showing encouraging signs of recovery.
A group of teenagers experienced a frightening incident in Southeast London on December 17, 2025, when a homemade rope swing collapsed, sending one of them plummeting to the ground. Rhys Huntley-Rowe, 17, is currently hospitalized after suffering a severe head injury.
The incident occurred after the group had been cycling in the Walmer area and ventured into a wooded area where someone had constructed a swing using a rope tied to a tree branch. According to reports from Metro, the branch gave way, causing Rhys to fall several meters.
“He lost consciousness, was choking on his vomit, and had a seizure,” explained his mother, Ashley Corn, 40. The severity of head injuries can have long-lasting consequences, highlighting the importance of safety precautions in recreational settings.
Rhys’s friends immediately called for emergency medical assistance and remained with him until paramedics arrived. “If they hadn’t reacted as they did, he wouldn’t have survived until the ambulance got there,” Corn emphasized. “They were between 16 and 18 years old. They were panicked, but they managed to keep their cool.”
“He suffered a double impact to the head”
The teenager, from Margate in Kent, was airlifted to King’s College Hospital in London and placed in a coma. Medical professionals diagnosed him with a skull fracture, a subdural hematoma, and a cerebral contusion. “He suffered a double impact to the head,” Ashley Corn stated, adding that initial concerns about injuries to his neck, spine, and pelvis were later ruled out.
After 24 hours, Rhys began breathing independently and showed some response to stimuli. However, his condition remains critical. “He is very disoriented and confused,” his mother said. “He is still being fed through a nasal tube at the moment and is on a lot of medication. We don’t yet know if there will be any brain damage.”
The accident has been deeply traumatic for all those involved, and police have provided psychological support to the group. A fundraising page has also been established to help the family cover accommodation and travel expenses related to Rhys’s prolonged hospitalization in London.
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