AN INVESTIGATION is underway after a teenager suffered serious injuries during a lesson at Bradford College.

Imaam Usmin, 18, broke his neck while taking part in a Public Services class.

During the session, Mr Usmin claims he was asked to wrestle with one of the teachers. He said he was lifted from the ground in a move he claimed ended with the teacher "falling on top of him."

Mr Usmin, from St Margaret’s Road, Shearbridge, Bradford, said he then felt a bone in his neck crack.

The college has wished the student a "speedy recovery" and immediately reported the incident to the Health and Safety Executive, but the organisation has since said it does not fall into its remit.

Mr Usmin, who was taking the course to further his dream of becoming a police officer, has had to have a metal plate put in his neck.

He claims he refused to wrestle with one of the teachers three times until, he says, they threatened to discipline him for ‘bad behaviour’.

The teenager, who only weighed eight stones at the time, said: “They took us on a six mile hike and then to a park near Grosvenor Road.

“They made us do activities like wheelbarrow and one-legged races and then wrestling.

“I refused three times and then they said if I don’t do it they will put me on a behavioural report.”

The former Dixons Kings Academy pupil feared he did not stand a chance against his opponent, who he estimated weighed 15 stones.

The class took place on Friday, December 7, but the operation to replace the cracked bone with a metal plate went ahead last week.

He was initially taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary half-an-hour after the class by one of the teachers, who Mr Usmin claims did not believe him when he said he was in excruciating pain.

He added: “They said ‘it’s fine’ and ‘don’t worry’.”

Following checks in Bradford, the distraught teen was given a neck brace to wear for a month, but the injury did not heal and doctors at Leeds General Infirmary decided to operate.

He spent five days in hospital and the ordeal has seen him lose a stone in weight.

He now fears the injury has dashed his hopes of joining the police force and he will now have to turn his attention to another career.

“I don’t know if I will be able to go back to college,” he added.

“Doctors have told me it will take three to four months to recover and, by the time I go back, college will be over.”

Dad Osman Usmin Sharif, 39, said the college should not have allowed the wrestling to go ahead.

“This was a mis-match and they should not have made him wrestle,” he said.

“They have put a plate in his neck and he may struggle to look in blind spots.

“If he can’t do that, he can’t drive and can’t join the police.

A Bradford College spokesperson said an investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened during the lesson.

They said: “The safety of students and staff is paramount and any incidents are treated with the utmost seriousness.

“This incident was reported to the Health and Safety Executive and a full investigation was launched in line with our policies and procedures.

“As that investigation remains ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment any further at this time except to say that we wish Imaam a full and speedy recovery.”

A HSE spokesperson said they are not investigating the incident.

They added: “HSE was made aware of this incident but we determined this incident does not fall within any of the categories within our set criteria that would lead us to investigate.

“We will not be commenting further on this.”

The Bradford College website states that students taking part in the Public Services course will be taught by a team of experienced tutors and ex-serving professionals, who can give inside knowledge on their career of your choice.

The college website states that, while studying Public Services, students get the chance to experience police riot training, visit fire stations and attend an annual army camp residential.

The website adds that: "Our courses aim to offer real-world learning and that's why some of our programmes require you to wear a uniform. Public Services careers provide defence, education, emergency response and health & safety services to our country."