A Perth toddler is lucky to be alive after being being run over by a driver who thought the two-year-old was ‘a speed bump’.
Emma and Ryan Golloway were holidaying at a caravan park in Esperance, WA, with their sons Archie, five, and Parker, two, when the horrific accident unfolded.
The holiday park was ‘packed’ according to Emma, who said they had previously been to the location a couple of times.
Five days into their trip, the couple was chatting to their new ‘van neighbours’ while Archie and Parker played on their scooters nearby. Emma recently explained on The Flying Doctor Podcast that Parker asked if he could have ‘one more scoot around’ before disappearing around a bend on the caravan park lane.
Just moments later, the mum says there was ‘a lot of commotion’, with people running, before Archie found her and explained Parker had been hit by a 4WD.
Emma and Ryan rushed to the scene, where they found Parker wrapped in a blanket, between the tyres of a Landcruiser and the van it was towing.
“The driver had knocked Parker over with his bullbar and then driven over him with his front wheel. Then drove over him again. He just thought he was a speed bump,” Emma said.
“It was just really unfortunate timing. No one is to blame. But there were a number of witnesses who saw the whole thing. It was horrifying.”
Incredibly a paediatric doctor, a midwife and nurse and were staying at the caravan park and started treatment while they waited for an ambulance.
“He was on his belly and he was conscious but he was whimpering. He was moving his head slightly but he couldn’t speak. At that stage, we didn’t know what had happened.”
Once the family arrived at Esperance Hospital, the extent of his injuries became clear and he was flown to Perth Children’s Hospital for treatment. Parker’s pelvis was broken in three places, he had a broken arm, internal bleeding and a laceration on his liver.
The toddler remained in hospital for a harrowing four weeks.
“There were times where he’d just be screaming all night. But he mostly just watched TV, that’s all we could do. It was heartbreaking to watch.”
Police who saw CCTV of the incident, which happened in January 2023, said it was a ‘miracle’ Parker survived.
While he still has some issues with walking and movement, Parker, now four, is back on his scooter and back to his normal self.
“He’s just loving life now,” Emma said.
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mom93821 replied
- 26 Jun 2024 , 6:10 am
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- 25 Jun 2024 , 7:54 am
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- 24 Jun 2024 , 9:32 pm
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