KUALA TERENGGANU: A three-year-old boy's left foot was run over by the tyre of a vehicle towing a Fire and Rescue Department boat during the National Day celebration on Monday (Aug 31), according to reports from Sinar Harian and Bernama.
The incident occurred at about 9.45am in front of Wisma Persekutuan here, the boy's mother told reporters. She was identified in one report as Puteri Anis Athirah Wan Rosli, 36, from Chendering. In another account, her son was named Che Ku Muhammad Khairul Amir Che Ku Mohd Khairul Azlan.
The mother said she had attended the celebration with her three children, who had been excited to see Fire and Rescue Department assets. When the vehicle towing the boat stopped several times in front of Wisma Persekutuan, her seven-year-old daughter ran forward to take photographs, and her son followed.
"When a fireman tried to signal to him and gently move him aside for safety before the vehicle moved, my son suddenly fell face down accidentally, causing his foot to end up beneath the tyre as it began moving," she said, as quoted in one report. In another version, she said firefighters tried to move him slightly aside and he fell forward before his foot was run over.
The mother said she witnessed the incident unfold in a matter of seconds and immediately picked up her son. She told reporters that X-rays showed no broken bones, and that he did not suffer internal injuries or vomit. The boy remained under observation at Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, where paediatric specialists were monitoring him.
Police officers at the scene helped manage the situation and escorted the ambulance transporting the boy to hospital at about 10.15am, the mother said. She expressed appreciation for their prompt response.
The mother said she does not blame the firefighters or any security forces, describing the incident as unintentional and caused by her son's excitement at seeing his favourite team. "They were managing the safety and movement of the assets," she said as quoted in one report.
Kuala Terengganu district police chief ACP Azli Mohd Noor confirmed the incident and said the exact cause was still under investigation, as reported by Bernama.