“I went around and around, and my arm fell”: Horror as a child’s arm cut off from the washing machine before opening the door

Horror: Rachel Roberts, 24, with son Lewis Lightfoot who lost his arm after getting opening the door of a Creda 800 washing machine in the family kitchen in Crewe

A toddler’s arm was ripped off by a washing machine after he managed to open the door while it was in mid-cycle.

Lewis Lightfoot, who has just turned three, wandered into the kitchen and was able to open the door of the front-loading Creda 800 while it was still running and reach inside.

His mother Rachel Roberts, 24, was in the living room at their rented home in Crewe when she heard her son’s screams.

The mother-of-four found him covered in blood with his arm still inside the machine. The boy was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool but doctors were unable to save the arm, which was torn off just below his shoulder.

Miss Roberts said: ‘When I asked him about what had happened he said ”I opened the door and went round and round and then my arm fell off”’.’

‘When I rushed in, the machine was still going. I switched it off and scooped him up and ran screaming to my neighbours.

‘There was blood everywhere. It was horrible seeing him like that. My daughter Kadie came in and saw the state he was in. She’s been very traumatised.

‘I can’t believe he was able to open the door so easily. It was terrifying. I’m devastated.’

Miss Roberts has rented the house from Wolverton Council since 2009 around the time she had the washing machine installed.

The machine is rented from a local company, the name of which cannot be revealed as Trading Standards are still investigating the cause of the incident.

A Cheshire East Council spokesman said: ‘We are very sorry to hear about this tragic incident. It is something that we are aware of and we are currently carrying out investigations.’

The traumatic ordeal took place at 11.30am on September 11 a week after Lewis’s third birthday.

Miss Roberts said: ‘Overall Lewis has been fine and he’s been very brave. He was left-handed but he’s been getting on really well with just his right arm.’

Recovering: Lewis, who has just turned three, may need further surgery after losing his arm in a horrific accident

The child may have to undergo further surgery and will eventually be fitted with a prosthetic arm.

Friends and family have organised fundraising events for the toddler. His mother said: ‘He’d love to go to Disneyland and we’ll need to buy specialist equipment for Lewis.’

Miss Roberts, who has three other children, Leon, seven, Kadie, five, and four-year-old Kelvin  thanked the emergency services for their help.

She added: ‘Everyone was absolutely amazing and we’re really grateful to them all. The police have also been trying to raise money for him.’

Adjusting to a new life: Lewis Lightfoot before (right) and after his accident where the washing machine in the family home ripped his arm off

At 11.29 a.m. on Sunday 11 September 2011, police and ambulance were called to a house in Crewe.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: ‘Staff were so moved by the horrific incident they felt the need to raise money for the family.

‘Different departments have donated prizes which will be raffled off at a later date.’

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Tags: Architecture for Humanity in New York City, arm, Baby, sad

Category: Society