Thread: Tradgic Accident

In the news today....

"A woman screamed and fell to the ground in tears when she a discovered a four-year-old boy had died after he was run over by a lawnmower in a Hastings park.

Onlookers said the boy appeared to fall into the mower's blades and became trapped around 5pm. He died at the scene.

A group of teenagers at Camberley School, across the road from the park, said they had seen four children chasing the lawnmower, which was being pulled by a tractor, around Kirkpatrick Park in Orchard Rd, Camberley.

The driver had shouted at the children to "bugger off" before a boy appeared to be sucked under the mower, witnesses said.

Police said the driver stopped the tractor immediately, raised the mower from the child, and called emergency services.

"But in the end the injuries were too horrific for the child to survive", said Ray Kirkby, Hawke's Bay Road Policing Seargent.

One of the other children ran to get an older family member, who screamed and fell to the ground in tears when she saw the boy's body.

Neighbours who arrived at the scene shortly after said that he was well known in the close-knit local community and was "a bubbly character".


Police said they understand the boy had been playing at the park with older cousins when he was hit.

The children said there were no adults at the park at the time of the accident.

'Absolute tragedy'

Mayor Lawrence Yule said the boy's death was an "absolute tragedy" for everyone connected to it, saying it was "one of the saddest things" he had come across since becoming mayor.

The boy's family and the tractor driver were very shaken, he said.

Kirkpatrick Park belongs to Hastings District Council and the tractor and mower were council-owned and driven by a council employee.

Mr Yule said he will visit the family on Thursday, allowing them time to grieve today.

"I'm the leader of the council and the leader of the organisation that owned this tractor and mower and I would like to front up to the family".

The council has begun its own investigation and the driver has been offered counselling.

Three local Kaumatua blessed the scene later in the evening.

Hawke's Bay police said the Serious Crash Unit is investigating.

The labour department of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is also investigating."