A YOUNG boy who plunged 20 feet through the roof of an old mill will undergo facial surgery after suffering severe head injuries.

Brandon Brookes’ family yesterday thanked some of his friends who gave him first aid — and who they believe saved his life.

The 10-year-old was trying to get a football from the roof of Bankfield Mill in Bankfield Street, Deane, at about 7.45pm on Wednesday when he fell through the roof and dropped about 20 feet.

He had earlier been playing with a group of about 50 friends on a nearby recreation area, and it is thought one of them kicked the ball on to the roof.

Brandon used a wheelie bin to help climb on to the roof of the former mill, which now houses several industrial units.

Two of his friends tried to break through a door at the back of the mill to reach Brandon, while others attempted to climb down through the hole in the roof.

His grandmother, Dehra Brookes, aged 53, of Hibernia Street, Deane, said two of his friends managed to reach him and stem the flow of blood.

She said: “I just want to thank Niall and Callum because they saved his life.”

Brandon, thought to be a Brandwood primary school pupil, lost his front teeth and broke and dislocated his jaw in the fall.

He was transferred from the Royal Bolton Hospital to Royal Blackburn Hospital early yesterday, and doctors are now waiting to operate.

Test engineer Andy Gardiner, who works at nearby Lostock Electrical Products, was one of the first on the scene.

He said: “I heard two lads trying to smash through the door, so I came out. That’s when they said there was a lad in the building.

They were panicking.

“They had already called 999 and the fire service arrived soon afterwards.