CHILD'S FEET SEVERED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19831, 29 December 1927, Page 8

CHILD'S FEET SEVERED.

STRUCK BY MOWING MACHINE STEPPED FROM BEHIND TREE. ACCIDENT NEAR TIRAU. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MATAMATA, Wednesday. A distressing accident occurred at Paiarere, Tirau, during the holidays, the three-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Hargreaves having both feet severed by a mowing machine. Mr. Hargreaves,.who is manager for Mr. A. M. Samuel, was trying the machine before entering the hay paddock) when his little boy stepped out from behind a tree right on to the machine. The child-was conveyed to a private hospital and is stated to be progressing favourably. Mr. and Mrs. Hargreaves are recent arrivals in the Tirau district.

MISHAP NEAR BLENHEIM.

SAD END TO A PARTY. A distressing accident occurred at Redwoodtown, near Blenheim, last week, as a result of which a boy named Eric Clifford, nine years of age, received such injuries that his left t'ooi. had to be amputated. « The boy, -who is a son oi Airs. Myrtle Clifford, with other children, was attending a birthday party at Mr. J. Scott's house. In the afternoon Mr. Scott commenced to cut hay in an adjoining paddock in Mr. W. Smith's property. The boys of the party forthwith followed to the hay paddock. It is st.ited that young Clifford was several times warned by Mr. Scott to keep clear of the mower, but persisted in running in front of it as it turned the corners. After cutting the first "round" of the paddock, Mr. Scott left the rest .of the work to his son and returned to his home. He had hardly left the field, however, beiore young Clifford got his foot into the machine, which practically severed it at the ankle. Assistance was summoned and no time was lost in rushing the unfortunate child to the hospital, where amputation took place the following morning. The boy is reported to be doing very well. Mrs. Clifford's husband fell in the war.