A BOY who suffered lifethreatening injuries after a quarter-tonne gate fell on him is now back at home.

Chris Jefferson, nine, suffered a fractured skull and needed 50 staples to hold his head wound together as he lay in intensive care at Newcastle General Hospital.

The youngster, who was playing with his identical twin, Joshua, at the time of the accident, was covered in cuts and bruises and shattered his cheekbone and nose.

But Chris’ recovery has amazed doctors and he is now back at home with his mother, Josie, in Stanley, County Durham.

She has spoken of the relief of finally having her “little fighter” back, and Chris has promised his friends he will play out as soon as he can.

Mrs Jefferson, 43, of Lambton Terrace, said: “I thought we’d lost him. There were times when I would have to leave him in hospital while he was crying, I hated it.

“That’s why it means so much having him at home.

I’m just happy I’ve got my boy back.”

Mystery surrounds the moments leading up to the steel gate falling on the Greenland School pupil on April 19.

The youngster had been playing outside with pals on the sunny Sunday afternoon, when a neighbour raised the alert.

After being airlifted to hospital, he was operated on the following day to ease pressure on his brain.

During their ordeal, Josie and Chris’ dad Steven, 34, took hope from the amazing fight their little boy showed, in particular the moment he woke and mouthed the word “mum” across his hopital room.

Josie said: “He kept trying to get out of bed. He kept trying to pull all of the wires and tubes out of him. He just wanted to be up, which the doctors said was a good sign. He’s obviously made of tough stuff.

“The moment he came out of intensive care it felt like a weight lifted off me.”

Chris said: “It’s nice to be back. I’m glad to be with my family and I’m looking forward to going back out to play.”