Mother claims toddler nearly died when their washing machine exploded

A mum-of-five has claimed that one of her children nearly died when their washing machine exploded, leaving the toddler dripping in blood and with a chunk of his finger 'hanging off'.

Amie McCarthy, was left in a state of shock last week when she found her 15-month-old toddler Brodie Davis covered in blood in their Liverpool home.

Having heard a loud bang from her utility room where she had just put on a half load of washing, Amie rushed to discover that the unit's glass door had 'exploded' and sent fragmented pieces flying across the room.

Finding her son with injuries to his eye, neck, arms, hands and feet, the 29-year-old nearly collapsed in horror.

With Brodie's finger 'hanging on by a thread' and face covered in blood after allegedly being hit by the shards of glass, Amie rushed her son to Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Upon arrival, Brodie was taken straight into an operation to reattach the top of his finger.

Despite the success of the procedure, he may still require a skin graft in the future.

Amie claims that the washing machine was not overloaded or overheating and has called on the unit's manufacturers to investigate with the aim of preventing similar incidents from occurring.

Speaking about her son's traumatic ordeal, Amie said: 'I started clearing up as I normally do, put a wash on, I walked into the kitchen and Brodie followed me. The washing machine is in like a mini conservatory separate to the kitchen.

'I was only a few feet away but around the corner. He never normally watches the washing machine.

'The machine must've only gone round about two or three times when I heard the glass shatter dead loud. It sounded like it was a window.

'I turned around, Brodie was to my left, and he was covered in blood. It was dripping all over him. He was screaming and crying.

'As I picked him up, that’s when I saw the glass all over the floor. The whole door was completely smashed.'

Recounting the injuries her toddler sustained in the incident, Amie said; 'The skin had started dying by then so they were trying to save the skin. They reattached the finger. And we still don’t know if he might need another operation for a skin graft.

'The tip of his finger was hanging on by a thread. They don’t know if the skin will carry on dying and he would need a skin graft where they would take skin from his thigh. 

'The consultant told us it could’ve been a lot worse because of the size of the glass pieces. Imagine if that had gone into his jugular. The tip of his finger will be numb for the rest of his life now'.

Adding that the washing machine was only 16 months old, Amie has now filed a complaint with the manufacturer.

'They need to look into it. It can't be safe. You never think your washing machine is going to do that... Brodie could have easily died that day'.