A Manchester teenager is facing a long road to recovery after a routine e-scooter journey turned into a nightmare when the front wheel unexpectedly detached, causing a catastrophic crash that required major surgery.
The Moment of Terror
Fifteen-year-old Harry O'Connor was travelling on a rented e-scooter through Manchester city centre when the unthinkable happened. "I was going around 15mph when suddenly the front wheel just came away," Harry recounted. "The scooter flipped forward and I was thrown onto the concrete. I put my hands out to break my fall and heard this awful crunching sound."
Devastating Injuries and Emergency Response
The impact caused severe damage to Harry's right wrist, completely shattering multiple bones. Paramedics rushed him to Manchester Royal Infirmary where surgeons delivered the grim news: he required immediate complex surgery to reconstruct his wrist.
"The doctors told me I'd broken my scaphoid and lunate bones in multiple places," Harry explained. "They had to insert metal plates and screws to put everything back together. The surgeon said it was one of the worst wrist fractures he'd seen from an e-scooter accident."
Family's Outrage and Safety Concerns
Harry's mother, Sarah O'Connor, expressed her fury at the scooter rental company. "These devices are being rented to children without proper safety checks," she stated. "How does a wheel simply detach during normal use? My son now faces months of physiotherapy and may never regain full movement in his wrist."
Growing Safety Crisis
This incident highlights increasing concerns about e-scooter safety across UK cities:
- Rental scooters available to underage users despite regulations
- Inadequate maintenance checks on shared fleets
- Lack of mandatory safety standards for critical components
- Insufficient user education about potential risks
Long-Term Consequences
Harry, an aspiring guitarist, now fears his musical dreams may be over. "I can't hold a pick properly, let alone play chords," he shared. "The doctors say it will be at least six months before we know if I'll regain proper function."
The family has reported the incident to trading standards and is considering legal action against the rental company. "This isn't just about compensation," Sarah emphasised. "We want to ensure no other family has to go through this horror. These devices need proper regulation and regular safety inspections."
Industry Response and Future Precautions
E-scooter rental companies operating in Manchester have faced increased scrutiny following the incident. Safety campaigners are calling for mandatory daily checks and age verification systems to prevent similar accidents.
Harry's message to other young people is stark: "Be really careful with these things. What happened to me shows they're not as safe as they look. One moment everything's fine, the next your life changes completely."
