WHAT started out as an innocent bit of rough-and-tumble between brothers could now have inadvertently ended up saving the life of a six-yearold from Newport.

Luke Ash, from St Julians, is currently undergoing chemotherapy after a cancerous tumour was found in his kidney.

It was only discovered by chance after an accident at home led to him being taken into hospital.

The schoolboy was dancing in front of the television in September when his nine-year-old brother Liam Ash accidentally kicked him in the stomach.

Mum Jemma Ash, 26, said: “He didn’t feel anything for a couple of days. It didn’t bother him. But then he was screaming and lying down in pain. It wasn’t like him because he doesn’t moan about anything.”

Luke was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, where doctors found a tumour in his right kidney.

Mrs Ash described the incident as a “blessing in disguise.”

“It’s good that it happened,” she said. “It couldn’t have grown much bigger because it was 14cm by 12cm. It was bigger than his kidney.”

Luke was sent to the children’s ward at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where he spent nine weeks having intensive chemotherapy.

The six-year-old then travelled to Birmingham for surgery to remove the tumour and kidney and to dilute his blood, after the cancer had spread to a blood vessel.

Luke returned home and started daily radiotherapy for three weeks which he finished last month.

He was also having chemotherapy which he will continue every three weeks.

Mrs Ash said: “He’s been brilliant.

He’s handled it much better than I thought.”

Luke’s hair is now growing back and he has a special tube for his nightly feeds of medicine to help build him up.

The youngster joined other children from across South Wales recently to have breakfast with Father Christmas, at an event organised by The Joshua Foundation.

The charity’s president, Sarah Cornelius Price, said: “Breakfast with Santa is an event we look forward to all year round.

“It is an opportunity for families who may only see each other in hospital to meet up and celebrate Christmas together.”