Toddler loses legs in accident with riding lawnmower Read more: http://www.myfoxtamp

[ScoutmasterRick]

I have a friend who lost his son in a similar accident.

Toddler loses legs in accident with riding lawnmower

PALM HARBOR (FOX 13) -

A toddler lost both legs and part of her hand Wednesday night after authorities say she fell in front of a riding lawnmower.

The accident happened in Palm Harbor around 7:30 p.m.

According to Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, the girl's father was driving the mower when the she ran toward it. She slipped and fell, and the father was unable to stop the mower in time.

"She suffered from immediate amputations to both legs below the knees and partial amputation on her hand," Palm Harbor Fire Rescue said in a media release.

The girl was flown to Tampa General Hospital, where officials said the parents are also being treated for symptoms related to extreme emotional duress.

Read more: Toddler loses legs in accident with riding lawnmower
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[fordmantpw]

That is the reason my kids are not allowed outside while I'm cutting grass. It's just too dangerous!

Last year I had one of the pins fall out of the anti-scalp rollers, and I didn't realize it. I drove off the edge of the driveway, and the drop was just enough (1") to let the roller come out of the deck. The roller went under the deck, got caught by the blades, and it flew 50+ feet and put a hole in the tin in the side of my shed. It could have easily killed someone!

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

That is the reason my kids are not allowed outside while I'm cutting grass. It's just too dangerous!

:thumbsup:
I'm with you... we have the grandkids over a lot, and I don't mind letting them have a ride on the tractor, BUT that's the only thing going on then, a ride. I refuse to let them near the tractor when I'm working/mowing and have to concentrate on something other than them.
My neighbour will mow his lawn with his 8-year-old grand-daughter on his lap, and his 11-year-old grand-son hanging off the back of the seat, standing on the rear hitch. You'd think a 70 year-old would know better. I cringe when I see it.

Pete

 

[BigMike50]

I don't even let my dogs out side when im mowing. If I care about something, im usually overly cautious. How does a toddler go out unnoticed? unless the wife opened the door and said "go play in traffic you crying little chit".I guess idiots all across the country don't give a crap judging by the number of these types of accidents popping up

 

[fordmantpw]

I don't even let my dogs out side when im mowing. If I care about something, im usually overly cautious.

Ditto!

How does a toddler go out unnoticed?

Very easily. Even mom's have to pee once in a while...

 

[arlen4720]

They already make the blades shut off in reverse....now they just need to mandate that the blades shut off going forward, then riding lawn mowers will finally truly be safe.

 

[J F]

No...it can still run over something.

 

[Mike_Kanzer]

Horrible- I saw this today on the internet also. Not sure how the dad can live with himself after an accident like this.

 

[Clint S]

Work in a trauma hospital have seen 2 in the past 5 years or so. One was below knee and partial foot. Other was above knee. One instance of backing over one of running in front of. Happens more than your think.

 

[creekbend]

I won't elaborate in regards to the Safety issues, because WE all realize the importance of appropriate measures being taken while working with or around equipment. I will, otherwise. pray for the Toddler. This Girl's Life will be changed forever. I hope that the Girl will adapt to her loss of limbs and live a productive Life. This comes from the very bottom of My Heart and Soul. Best wishes "Little One".

 

[300UGUY]

I don't even let my dogs out side when im mowing. If I care about something, im usually overly cautious. How does a toddler go out unnoticed? unless the wife opened the door and said "go play in traffic you crying little chit".I guess idiots all across the country don't give a crap judging by the number of these types of accidents popping up

Same here. I grew up with 3 siblings. We all still have all of our body parts.

 

[fordmantpw]

I won't elaborate in regards to the Safety issues, because WE all realize the importance of appropriate measures being taken while working with or around equipment. I will, otherwise. pray for the Toddler. This Girl's Life will be changed forever. I hope that the Girl will adapt to her loss of limbs and live a productive Life. This comes from the very bottom of My Heart and Soul. Best wishes "Little One".

Well said!

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

Hopefully the cops will spay and neuter the parents after this because they stink

Kids will be kids... we all were kids, and most of us had kids, so we know what little ones will do without thinking. But for sure, these parents were not the parents this little girl needed.

 

[MHarryE]

Organization of orthopedic surgeons reports average year 250,000 people are treated for lawn mower accidents. Not a surprise. One day one of my designers came into work with his right hand bandaged up. He was always accident prone. He had grabbed a thick weed his mower didn't cut, yanked on it, and it pulled his hand right into the mower. Apparently the weed was wrapped around the shaft and when he grabbed it it became tight enough to pull, and his reflexes weren't enough to let go before his hand was in the blade.

 

[Mace Canute]

I knew one guy who tried to pick his rotary push type mower up while it was running...by grabbing the bottom edge of the deck! He was lucky in that he only had the tips sliced open and didn't have a few fingers shortened.

 

[TripleR]

I won't elaborate in regards to the Safety issues, because WE all realize the importance of appropriate measures being taken while working with or around equipment. I will, otherwise. pray for the Toddler. This Girl's Life will be changed forever. I hope that the Girl will adapt to her loss of limbs and live a productive Life. This comes from the very bottom of My Heart and Soul. Best wishes "Little One".

+2, very well said.

 

[Bird]

I knew one guy who tried to pick his rotary push type mower up while it was running...by grabbing the bottom edge of the deck! He was lucky in that he only had the tips sliced open and didn't have a few fingers shortened.

It's hard to believe, but we had an elderly neighbor just a couple of houses up the street do the same thing about 3 years ago. We saw the ambulance and then saw some police officers over there. The officers were searching the yard to see if they could find the fingers that were cut off.

And many years ago, an auto pound clerk who worked for me was mowing with a push type rotary mower when the grass was a bit wet from dew. And while mowing the borrow ditch, he slipped and fell and pulled the mower back onto his feet. At least it didn't cut them off. He was in the hospital awhile and off work even longer, but eventually was able to walk and return to work.

 

[NorTracNY]

Wow. Just wow.

Yes, Wow! It's scary the people we have in this society that insist they are without fault. All others are inferior to them.

 

[ScoutmasterRick]

Followup story:

Girl in mower accident doing well after surgery

Stef DiPietrantonio, FOX 13 News
TAMPA (FOX 13) -

The family of 2-year-old Ireland Nugent reports, after a lengthy surgery Monday morning, she is stable and her outlook is good.

They had to amputate both of her legs from the mid-calf on down.

"I cannot wait to just love her and hold her and tell her it's all going to be ok," said Nicole Nugent, Ireland's mother.

The Nugent family is overjoyed.

"I just want to hear her say, she loves me and hug her," said her father, Jerry Nugent.

They are so relieved Ireland came through surgery without any major complications, but she will be kept sedated until Tuesday morning.

"I know they keep telling me she can hear me, but I want to see her look back at me, when I can tell her that we're gonna get through this," said Nicole Nugent.

"We were bad and naughty and just sorta snuck and saw her quick, quick, but she's resting peacefully," said Dr. Dennis Reid, who is their family pastor and leader at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Clearwater.

Their entire congregation and so many others, have prayed for Ireland all weekend and at services Sunday. Their prayers were answered Monday in the operating room at Tampa General Hospital.

"I saw her face, it kind of felt like she was still her, still my baby and no matter what limbs she does or doesn't have, we're gonna have the same relationship and she's gonna be the same person that she would have always been anyway," said Nicole Nugent.

Her husband Jerry said he is still struggling with the tragedy, but each day she [Ireland] improves, helps heal a lot of it.

"I've got to work through, but when she opens her eyes and she sees me and she smiles and says she loves me and we hold each other, a lot of pain that's in my right now's gonna leave," said Jerry Nugent.

"When I met them, I just wanted to set their mind at ease, knowing they don't have to worry about their finances, anything."

Steve Chamberland with the charity 50-Legs, will be working with Ireland and the Nugents one-on-one, to help not only with the cost of getting her prosthetic feet, but with the cost of her ongoing therapy.

"Will actually extend the life of the prosthesis," said Bryan Sinnott, who is a Licensed Prosthetist and Orthotist at Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa. He said she will most likely start wearing a compression garment to reduce the swelling from her surgery.

Then a silicon sleeve will be made to her specific proportions. The newer prosthetic feet are made of carbon fibers, which act like internal springs and can mimic the action of a real-life foot.

"To actually push off and give them a return," said Sinnott demonstrating with a small, prosthetic foot. Their prosthetists are real artists, constantly re-casting the leg or foot, as the child grows. "Most children, you get them started and just watch them take off," he said smiling.

"This family is probably the nicest family you will ever meet," said Chamberlain. "Just keep reaching out to them please!"

The Nugents said they are blown away by all of the support from friends and family, even total strangers. Ireland is expected to be hospitalized at least six to eight week while her incisions heal. The family will be working with a child psychologist at TGH to help explain to Ireland, what happened.

"Before she was being sedated on the lawn at our house, she was asking, where her legs were, so she knew at that time she didn't have legs," said Nicole Nugent.

Read more: Girl in mower accident doing well after surgery
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[dave1949]

Thankfully, medical technology has advanced to the point where this little girl can have a fairly normal life. Years ago, that accident would often have been a life sentence to a wheel chair or some very clumsy braces and prosthetics, maybe including some sort of crutches.