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Six-year-old Euan Dreams of Being a Doctor

Six-year-old Euan Dreams of Being a Doctor

Date: 2015-08-07
Euan Hird, the six-year-old boy from the United Kingdom whose foot was stuck between an escalator step and a platform for three hours at a Durban shopping mall recently, will have a few stories to tell his friends when he returns home.

Euan's foot was mangled in the incident and doctors were initially concerned that he might be in danger of losing one or more of his toes. However, his mother, Nishala Hird, says he has recovered remarkably quickly after two successful operations were undertaken on his foot by surgeons at Netcare Umhlanga Hospital.

"Euan is looking forward to going home, but is in good spirits and is his usual chatty self," said Mrs Hird before flying home to the UK with her son on the weekend.

The family, who were visiting Durban to celebrate the 60th birthday of Euan's grandmother, were leaving a shopping centre when Euan's foot became trapped by the escalator. Netcare 911 paramedics worked for hours to keep Euan stable and calm while rescuers, including fire brigade personnel, battled to free him.

He was finally extricated when shop fitters used a blowtorch to split an escalator step in half. Euan was rushed to Netcare Umhlanga Hospital with a crushed right foot with soft tissue and bone damage.

Marc Van Heerden, general manager of Netcare Umhlanga Hospital says that Euan showed great courage during his stay in hospital, from which he was discharged recently.

"He underwent an exceptionally distressing experience. Nevertheless he was cheerful throughout his time with us, discussing every aspect of his care and progress with the surgeons and nurses involved in his treatment and care. He fully deserved his award for bravery," adds Van Heerden.

Mrs Hird says it is not surprising that her son asked the doctors at the hospital about his treatment. "He is a bright boy and has been adamant that he wants to be a neurosurgeon ever since he was three years old. He was consequently fascinated by the hospital and how it works, and asked his surgeons how they were going to go about repairing his foot."

"Euan was a great inspiration to staff and management at the hospital. It was a great pity that he had to go through such an experience while visiting his family in South Africa. It has, however, been a great privilege for us to care for such a valiant and vibrant young man. We wish him a safe trip home, a speedy recovery, and him and his family all the very best for the future," concludes Van Heerden.