Brisbane man killed in mower accident as toddler critically injured in US lawnmower horror

A man has died following a ride-on mower accident at a property near Ipswich in Brisbane’s west.

Emergency services were called to a home in Haigslea about 6.15pm on Thursday, where a man in his 60s had been carrying out repairs on the mower before it rolled.

Paramedics arrived to find the man in a life-threatening condition and treated him at the scene for “multiple traumatic injuries”.

The Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed crews assessed the man following the rollover on the private property, but no transport to hospital was made.

Further details about the incident are yet to be released.

In a separate incident in Cary, Illinois, a three-year-old boy was seriously injured after being run over by an industrial lawnmower operated by his father.

Officers and paramedics arrived to find the young child with a severe leg injury, and it was determined that he had been run over by the mower, CBS News Chicago reported.

It is believed the toddler had been standing with his father on top of the lawnmower when it started reversing, and had either jumped or fallen off into its path as it continued moving backwards.

After the terrible incident, a neighbour rushed to cover the three-year-old’s injury with a makeshift tourniquet to help control the bleeding.

When paramedics arrived, he was taken to Mercyhealth Hospital and then airlifted to Loyola University Medical Centre in critical condition.

Christopher Covelli, the county’s deputy chief, said the event appeared to be a “tragic accident”, Chicago’s Daily Herald reported.

“We want the family to be focused on the child’s recovery, but we will review the incident with the state’s attorney’s office,” he said.

Mr Covelli said the type of industrial mower that was used required the boy’s father to stand up while operating it.

He said authorities believed that when the child fell, the father did not notice.

According to him, the neighbour’s actions may well have saved the boy’s life.

“Fortunately, a neighbour ran over with a T-shirt and used it as a makeshift tourniquet and applied that tourniquet right above the wound, which stopped the bleeding and very well could have saved the child’s life,” he said.

“It serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of lawn mowers and children and the fact that a child should never be riding on a lawn mower when it’s operational.”

Social media users shared their well-wishes for the boy and his family.

“There’s a time for criticism and a time for prayer and togetherness. Please pray as a community for this child and the parents healing now,” one Facebook user wrote.

“Praying for this sweet family it is such a horrific accident, things happen in a moment, But think of all the responders and neighbours who jumped in to save him…that is a beautiful thing,” another wrote.