Kite flyer who cheated death

But her shock turned to horror when she realised the crumpled figure lying injured in the road was her 14-year-old son.

Mrs Elson just happened to be passing Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre in a car when Aaron Chappell was swept off the beach, narrowly missing a moving car, before hitting a parked van and then crashing into the flint wall next to the road, sustaining a serious head injury.

At first she thought the silhouette hurtling across the road was a parachutist landing.

"As the person came down I realised that it wasn't deliberate, it was something going horribly wrong," she said.

"I started to dial 999 and ran towards the figure and I saw Aaron's army trousers and I realised it was him lying there."

Mrs Elson, the first person on the scene, said that from that point she went into auto-pilot as she took off her jacket and put it under Aaron's head.

"He was talking to me almost immediately, complaining that his back and head hurt, but he was lying motionless, which was scary."

Staff from the swimming centre who were called to the accident by a by-stander, took first aid kits with them as they rushed down to find him.

When paramedics arrived a couple of minutes later, the centre staff helped them move Aaron onto a spinal board.

Aaron was taken by paramedics to Worthing Hospital's accident and emergency department, and after eight hours of tests and scans was transferred to Southampton General Hospital's neurological unit in the early hours of the morning.

A tiny haemorrhage in his brain had to be monitored and he spent the next seven days in the hospital before being allowed to go home.

He now has a scar across his forehead and a hole in his elbow, injuries which, if he had been wearing the correct safety gear, he would probably not have sustained.

A keen kiter for the past two-and-a-half years, Aaron owns a helmet and protective padding for kiteboarding, but didn't think they were needed for simply standing on the beach to fly his 2.5m kite.

Despite weighing eight-and-a-half stone the wind picked him up and tossed him over the road with ease. Next time, he vows to wear his helmet.

He said: "I was down at the beach with three friends, Toby, Dan and Ollie. It was very windy at the time but I didn't realise just how fast the wind was gusting.

"I wasn't really scared. I was just trying desperately to unclip myself from the harness attaching me to the kite.

"The wind gusted and I flew across the beach and then across the promenade and the road before hitting the van and then the wall.

"I remember seeing my mum bending over me and saying 'I love you mum' and 'I don't want to die'."

Despite the accident, Aaron is keen to return to the beach with his kite. One of his favourite places to go used to be The Green at Littlehampton, but Arun District Council has banned kiteboarders from using it.

"I think the ban is stupid," he said: "It should be re-considered for a local club, where it could be controlled. Loads of people come to watch us down there. It's really good for the town.

"I can't wait to get back out with my kite again but I'll definitely wear my helmet every time I do and when I ride my bike.

"Hopefully, if I can persuade my mum and dad, I can go out onto the water soon and learn to kite-surf. But that will have to wait until I'm better."