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DIZZY schoolgirl Daisy White came a cropper when she found herself locked in a park in the historic English city of Oxford.
The former St Christopher’s School pupil, whose British parents Chris and Penny live in Barbar, needed emergency surgery after seriously injuring herself trying to climb over a fence.
Chris and Penny had what every expat parent fears with a child away at boarding school … a nightmarish call in the early hours informing them of the incident. “She had the option of calling someone to get her out of a locked park or climbing a fence – she chose the fence, slipped and got herself impaled on a metal pole,” explained Penny, a well-known marathon runner, doula and nearly-qualified breastfeeding counsellor. She and Chris, a senior procurement consultant, have two other daughters – Katherine, 20, who is taking an anthropology degree course at Sussex University, and Ruby, five.
“We had a 12.30am phone call to say she was in an ambulance with a cut leg. It turned out to be a little more serious and she had emergency surgery in the morning which revealed a very deep flesh wound but, thankfully, no internal damage.
“It’s been a few days that we wouldn’t wish to repeat but she is OK – just no sitting for a week!”
Daisy, who will be 17 in July, is a boarder at d’Overbroeck’s, a co-educational independent school in Oxford for students aged 11–18, where she is studying for her A levels.
She is currently recovering at John Radcliffe Hospital. “She may be an idiot for getting herself into this mess but Daisy has been praised by the staff at the hospital and her house mistress for her positive attitude, calmness and politeness to everyone who has looked after her in hospital,” said mum, who made the headlines herself when she completed the London Marathon last year.
“Chris and I would like to thank everyone who has helped us from all this way away and please know that your messages have been very comforting.
“And Daisy, we love you very much and are super proud of you for coping with this!”
Speaking from her hospital bed, red-faced Daisy said she would also like to thank everyone who has visited her and sent lovely messages. “I promise not to try to climb over any more metal fences,” she added.
