Cary, Illinois: Horror as three-year-old run over by industrial lawnmower

A three-year-old boy has been seriously injured after being run over by an industrial lawnmower operated by his father.

Police were called to Kristy Lane in Cary, Illinois, on Saturday after a report was made of a child with a traumatic injury.

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 fell 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.

On Sunday, Lake County Sheriff’s office said the toddler was still in hospital in an intensive care unit in Chicago, but said doctors had managed to stabilise him.

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 have 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.