Air ambulance on the playground at Taverham High School where a pupil fell from a pommel horse during a PE lesson. March 2013

A year eight pupil’s heart stopped beating after she fell from a pommel horse during a PE lesson.

The girl, who attends Taverham High School, landed on her head during the accident at the Beech Avenue site.

Paramedics were able to re-start her heart before taking her by ambulance to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Last night Taverham headteacher Ron Munson confirmed the pupil had since been transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

He said her injuries were serious and added: “They are severe but she is stable. There are signs of recovery. She’s now in the right place.”

The accident happened at about 2.45pm on Tuesday.

The headteacher said it had taken place during a “routine PE lesson”.

“She fell onto the PE mats from a vaulting horse about half a metre high,” said Mr Munson.

“She caught her foot as she went over the horse and landed head first.

“Her parents are in permanent contact with me. We talked this morning and dad and mum will keep in contact with me.”

Last night the East of England Ambulance Service confirmed it had been called to the academy at 2.48pm.

A rapid response vehicle, ambulance, paramedic car and air ambulance all attended although the air ambulance was not required to transport the pupil.

A spokesman said: “The girl had fallen from a pommel horse and was in cardiac arrest. Crews managed to start her heart again before she was transported via land to Norfolk and Norwich with an air escort.”

The East Anglian Air Ambulance confirmed its Anglia One helicopter had landed at the school with Dr Joseph Toing and critical care paramedic Gary Steward.

Headteacher Mr Munson said health and safety investigators had also visited the school on Tuesday to confirm the equipment in use had been safe.

“They found no defective equipment,” he said. “No problems with anything at all.”

A Norfolk County Council spokesman said: “The Health and Safety Executive visited the school this morning and Norfolk County Council’s health and safety team will be at the school tomorrow to carry out its investigation. This is the normal process for an incident of this nature.”