A TEENAGE boy suffered serious facial injuries when he was hit by the propeller of a petrol-driven model aeroplane.

Robert Gardner, of Springfield Close, Croxley Green, was playing football with his friends at Watford Heath on Sunday at 6pm when the remote-controlled aircraft struck him.

The 17-year-old Tesco worker's face was badly cut by the spinning blades as he went to fetch his football.

Robert did not think he would be in danger as the plane was flying high enough and he was in full view of its owners, a man and a young boy.

But now he believes he is lucky to be alive. In March 1999, 11-year-old Adam Kirby, from Watford, died instantly when he was hit on the back of the head by a model aeroplane travelling at 70mph at Phoenix Model Flying Club in Colney Heath.

Robert said: "I've gone to walk over and the plane's come down and hit me in the face.

"I was fully conscious but I was losing a lot of blood. All the lads laughed but then they saw the amount of blood coming out and called an ambulance."

According to Robert, the plane's owner asked if he was all right and then left.

Robert was taken to Watford General Hospital but could not be given stitches as the plane had made a hole in his cheek, leaving no skin.

He has a broken cheek bone and has been referred to Hillingdon Hospital's specialist facial injuries unit.

However, doctors can do nothing for the swelling, which will take at least a week to go down.

Stuck at home, Robert is convinced had it not been for his glasses, he would have been blinded.

He is unable to eat, drink or even speak without pain, and cannot see properly because his injuries make wearing glasses agony.

The police have told him there is nothing they can do as it is not a criminal offence to operate such aircraft but Robert and his mother Lorraine are asking people to be aware of the dangers.

Robert said: "If I was a little kid, I could have died."

Adam's death in 1999 prompted Three Rivers District Council to put up signs on Common Moor in Croxley Green asking members of the public to take extra care when model aircraft was being flown.

This week, Watford Borough Council said it would investigate the matter. However, Mayor of Watford Dorothy Thornhill rejected the idea of warning signs on Watford Heath, which she said was too small an area for flying.

She said: "It's like anything else, whether you are driving a car or riding a bike, you expect people to be responsible and people who fly these model aircraft are usually extremely responsible.

"I wouldn't want to ruin open space with yet more banning notices and I just feel people have to look out for themselves and be responsible."

Robert is appealing for the owners of the aircraft to come forward.

He said: "This person's just walked off without a care in the world. I know he apologised but it would have been nice for him to stay. You just don't walk off with a person gushing blood out of his face."

He added: "He shouldn't have been playing with a plane in a public place. His son was controlling it and his son was only about nine or ten. I don't think the son was in full control."

Anyone with information about the incident should telephone The Watford Observer on 01923 216372.

May 24, 2002 13:30