Woman impaled by falling on fence

A woman who was stuck for half an hour after being impaled through the neck by falling on a railing is expected to make a full recovery, police said.

Kirsty Scott, 23, slipped on an icy path outside a flat in Perth on Monday morning and landed on the 5in spike – leaving it embedded underneath her chin.

After being cut free by firefighters, she was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee where she underwent emergency surgery to remove the spike. She was conscious throughout the rescue.

Graeme Johnson, who lives in the area, told The Courier: "The woman was on her knees on the step – I initially thought she was just leaning over to speak to someone."