Mum’s urgent warning as son narrowly avoids losing leg in e-scooter accident

The mother of a 12-year-old Belfast[1] boy has issued a warning to parents following an accident in which he almost lost a leg on an e-scooter[2], claiming he is "lucky" to not have been killed. On Wednesday, the scooter-mad boy fell off the back of the e-scooter manned by his friend, causing him serious leg injuries. Also a member of indoor Belfast skatepark The Ramp Yard, he has never been allowed to own a battery-powered scooter.

Belfast Live reports[3] that the boy's mother purchased knee pads and safety helmets for her son for when he attends the yard to scooter, but that after he got on the back of the electric scooter on the day of the accident, "he is lucky he wasn't killed". She added that she is "counting [her] lucky stars this morning" that her worst nightmare did not materialise. "My son was the only one out of his friend group that wasn't allowed one of these because they are dangerous but he got on the back of one without my knowledge.

And now I'm having to ring British Red Cross for wheelchairs this morning. I'm sickened. "Not only that, my son is a member of Ramp Yard Scootering - it's just normal scootering but he wears all the protective gear in that sport.

I actually paid GBP100 for his killer knee pads for that sport and his head gear." With her son now wheelchair-bound, his mother does not want to take a step back in addressing the danger she sees in the scooters. "I want to make people and adults aware of what can happen, and parents too - the danger is there.

"I also want to say a huge thank you to the people who helped my son after the accident, and lifted him off the road.

They drove him straight home and his sister got him to the Royal as fast as she could. They actually saved his leg. "To the doctors and nurses at the Royal, I am so, so grateful to.

Thank you for helping my son." A PSNI[5] spokesperson said in a statement: "Currently, it is illegal to use electric scooters on public roads and in public spaces in Northern Ireland. "Electric scooters are not defined within law nor are they approved for on-road use."

"Anyone found using an electric scooter anywhere other than on private property, with the permission of the landowner, should expect to receive a formal warning as a minimum course of action and given the opportunity to walk their scooter home with advice to its further use. "Repeat offenders may have their e-scooter seized as an uninsured vehicle and may be issued with fixed penalty notices or reported to the Public Prosecution Service." Join the Irish Mirror's breaking news service on WhatsApp.

Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.

If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.[6][7]

References

1. ^ Belfast (www.irishmirror.ie)
2. ^ e-scooter (www.irishmirror.ie)
3. ^ Belfast Live reports (www.belfastlive.co.uk)
4. ^ Inspirational Cork man who lost leg to diabetes sheds 11 stone in just six months (www.irishmirror.ie)
5. ^ PSNI (www.irishmirror.ie)
6. ^ this link (chat.whatsapp.com)
7. ^ Privacy Notice (www.reachplc.com)