BBCA mum who was left with broken bones and a “shattered leg” after she fell from an e-scooter has urged parents not to buy one for their children for Christmas.
Lauren Mullen was riding her 13-year-old son’s e-scooter along Marjorie Road, in Chaddesden, Derby, on 31 October when she fell off and “smashed” her leg on to the kerb.
The 44 year-old spent five weeks in hospital recovering and said the incident nearly led to her leg being amputated.
She said: “Please don’t get one for your children, they are death traps and I would never get on one again.”
SuppliedMs Mullen said she was unsure what caused her to fall from the e-scooter.
“It was either a pothole or a pebble”, she said.
“I have had seven operations and two blood transfusions since the accident.
“I had to have an emergency operation due to blood pooling in my leg, and I could have lost my leg or my life. Paramedics said my heart could have stopped because of the trauma.”
Ms Mullen said it would be 18 months until she recovered fully.
She added: “I can’t believe falling off an e-scooter has warranted the injuries I have sustained, I could have lost my leg or my life.”
‘Not toys’
E-scooters cannot be insured, which makes it unlawful to ride them on roads, cycle lanes or pavements in the UK.
When asked if she was aware that riding an e-scooter on public land was illegal, Ms Mullen said: “I was not.”
Since the start of November, Derbyshire Police seized e-scooters “immediately” off the streets if they were seen by officers in public places.
“The e-scooter will never be ridden again”, said Ms Mullen.
“My son has seen what it has done to me, so I think he is now well aware of the dangers, he will not be riding it again.
“They are not toys and I didn’t foresee the dangers, not for one minute.
“The injury it has caused is unbelievable, I don’t know what would have happened if my 13 year-old son had an accident.”
