Umhlanga escalator boy recovering
The six-year-old UK resident whose foot was stuck in an escalator at Gateway is in high spirits.
THE 6-year-old boy whose foot who was seriously injured after it was trapped in an escalator at The Gateway Theatre of Shopping is ‘recovering and in high spirits’ in hospital. Paramedics and rescue officials spent almost three hours trying to free Euan Hird’s mangled foot, which got stuck between elevator steps last Tuesday. Euan was leaving the centre with his parents and relatives when the incident occurred. The accident has inspired the little tyke to dream of becoming a doctor to help others.
Speaking to Northglen News, his father, Will Hird, said his son was in a lot of pain but remained in high spirits. He is currently recovering at Netcare Umhlanga Hospital. The 28-year-old explained his family were on their last week of a three-week holiday from the UK when tragedy struck.
“We were leaving the centre after dinner and were coming down the main escalator in the forecourt when I heard this loud bang and a shudder. Euan was behind me with his uncle and I just heard Euan scream out in pain. It all happened so fast,” he said. Will explained one of the steps in the escalator had fallen out of alignment, which created an opening that swallowed his son’s foot.
“Thankfully his uncle pressed the emergency stop button on the escalator, which prevented further damage. It was incredibly distressing for all of us, including his sister, Zara (3), she was very upset to see her brother in distress. My wife cradled him in her lap while the rescuers were trying to free his foot. We all feared the worst – the next port of call would have been amputation, but thankfully he was freed before anymore serious damage,” he said.
Euan’s crushing injury has left him with a few broken bones as well as mangled toes.
‘Mommy, it wasn’t my fault’
“While my wife was holding him, he kept saying ‘Mommy, it wasn’t my fault’.
“I’d like to thank Acorn Shopfitters, who were working nearby, for their help in freeing Euan and everyone from the hospital and the paramedics for saving my son. The support from the public was also overwhelming. This has been an emotional rollercoaster for my family. We just this ordeal to be over and for my son to be healthy and up and walking again,” he said.
Gateway management is still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
