A schoolboy thought he was going to die after he was attacked during a game of football, leaving him with 10 staples in his head.
Alexander Stewart, 11, was knocked to the ground, stomped and kicked by an older boy on a playing field in Bo'ness, Scotland.
The confrontation happened while the boys, who were not well-known to each other, were playing football, Falkirk Live reports.
Now Alexander is too scared to leave his house after he was left with 10 staples in his head.
Mum Beverly Brown, 38, said she didn't recognise her son who came home with blood pouring down his face.
She has said a report to Police Scotland has been made and they have launched an investigation.
Beverly said: "Words cannot describe how angry I am about this.
"This happened more than a week ago, and police are yet to make an arrest.
"I couldn't believe it when I saw him. I couldn't see his face for all the blood. It was pouring everywhere.
"Thankfully a man and woman found him trying to walk home. They gave him a towel to apply pressure to the gash.
"He kept saying he felt dizzy and at one point told me he thought he was going to die.
Alexander was rushed to Forth Valley hospital with his head injury and had to get staples in his head.
Beverly continued: "The doctor said he was very lucky the man and woman found him because he could have passed out from the head injury and might not have woken back up.
"We were at the hospital for about seven hours. The medics wanted to make sure there was no internal bleeding.
"He has ten staples in his head, and the nurse said it will be months before his injury is better.
"Alexander is now terrified to leave the house and when he does, he won't go out without a cap because of the staples.
"The police took away Alexander's bloodied towel in an evidence bag.
"They also took a bit of grass which were covered in blood away in a bag."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 1.40pm on Sunday, March 20, officers received a report of an 11-year-old boy being assaulted on Grahamsdyke Road, Bo'ness.
"He was taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital for treatment.
"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances."
