A TEENAGER is today recovering in hospital after he was impaled on the handlebars of his own bicycle.

The youngster needed emergency surgery following the horrific accident on a skateboard ramp.

Emergency services had to perform a delicate rescue operation to free the 14-year-old rider last night.

The teenager came off his BMX bike in Eastleigh's Fleming Park leisure complex at a skateboarding ramp near the popular paddling pool in Passfield Avenue.

He ended up with the handlebars impaled in the area of his groin, very close to a main artery leading to his leg.

Hampshire Ambulance Service was called to the scene at 5.34pm and sent two doctors, a rapid response vehicle and then an ambulance to take the injured youngster to Southampton General Hospital.

But first Eastleigh firefighters had to free the teenager from his bike.

A spokesman said: "Due to the injuries, firefighters had to leave the handlebars in and remove them from the rest of the bike.

"It was a very careful job. The bars were near arteries and they couldn't saw them away so they unscrewed the handlebars from the rest of the bike."

A Hampshire Ambulance spokeswoman confirmed that doctors directed the rescue operation, which took nearly an hour.

Police said that the boy's parents were already at the scene when they arrived.

Eastleigh Council said they were informed yesterday evening about the accident that happened on a half-pipe stunt arena at the skatepark.

A spokesman said: "This equipment is designed for wheeled sports, including bikes and skateboards, and had recently been refurbished. It was inspected immediately and found to be in good condition."