Boy suffers ‘near amputation of both feet’ in mowing accident, Illinois official says

A 4-year-old boy suffered “near amputation of both feet” after he was struck by a riding lawn mower in Illinois, according to local reports.

“A family member was mowing with a riding lawn mower and a child came upon him, and he didn’t see the child and the lawn mower accidentally struck the child,” Rosewood Heights Fire Chief Corey Williams told the RiverBender. “There was severe trauma to both of the child’s feet.”

The Rosewood Heights Fire Protection District was called to the accident at about 6 p.m. Monday, May 9, according to a Facebook post from the department.

“A young child ... received injuries to their legs severe enough that it required them to be flown to a St. Louis hospital,” officials said.

Williams said an ambulance was also called for the boy’s grandpa, who had been mowing the lawn, as he was “overcome” following the incident, according to the Alton Telegraph.

Updated conditions on the man and his grandson have not been made public.

Rosewood Heights is about 30 miles north of downtown St. Louis.

This story was originally published May 10, 2022 at 2:06 PM with the headline "Boy suffers ‘near amputation of both feet’ in mowing accident, Illinois official says."