'No X-ray' boy has pellet removed

The pellet in Tony Wallace's neck has now been removed

A schoolboy left with an airgun pellet in his neck after hospital staff allegedly failed to spot it is recovering after it was removed.

Tony Wallace, 10, from Cruden Bay, was shot on 2 August and went to Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital.

Tony's mother Fiona said he was not given an X-ray and the pellet remained in his neck for almost three months.

The pellet was later found and was removed in an operation on Thursday. He was staying in hospital overnight.

Mrs Wallace told the BBC Scotland news website: "They located the pellet and Tony is now out of theatre.

"He is asleep and has a drain in his neck. He will stay in overnight and hopefully get home tomorrow.

"It seems to have gone OK."

I am really angry, they should have done an X-ray Fiona Wallace

The primary seven pupil was taken to hospital in August, where Mrs Wallace said the injury was cleaned.

She said: "He came home, but a few weeks later he was complaining about a lump. So I took him to our local doctor who asked if we had had an X-ray and I said no.

"Tony went back to hospital and got an X-ray and they realised there was a pellet.

"I am really angry, they should have done an X-ray. It's been in there all this time. I think it's caused an infection. I want answers."

An NHS Grampian spokesman said the family could get in touch with their concerns and the case would be investigated.

A Grampian Police spokesman said a 12-year-old boy had been charged in connection with the incident and report had been sent to the children's reporter.