Shocking crochet needle accident: 12-Year-Old Girl’s foot impaled while searching for an AirPod
A 12-year-old girl in California was rushed to the emergency room after stepping on a four-inch crochet needle left on the floor, resulting in a shocking and painful injury that narrowly missed bones and vital tendons.
In Oceanside, California, 12-year-old Georgia Sullivan was involved in a freak accident at home when she accidentally stabbed her foot with a metal crochet hook while searching for a lost AirPod. The crochet hook was left by her younger sister Maggie, an aspiring crocheter, and would become an unexpected hazard - transforming a normal family evening into an emergency room adventure.
The crochet hook, approximately four inches long and very sharp, penetrated deep into Georgia's foot, and panic soon struck her mother, Ashley Sullivan. Luckily, the hook missed all important bones and nerves, and Georgia is recovering well and resting at home - eager to return to her normal routine playing basketball and rugby.
Shocking injury: Crochet needle impales 12-year-old girl's foot
Twelve-year-old Georgia Sullivan of Oceanside, California, was home searching for a lost AirPod when she was suddenly hit with an extreme amount of pain. The source of the pain? A four-inch-long metal crochet hook left on the floor by her younger sister Maggie, who had recently started crocheting. Georgia unknowingly stepped on the sharp needle, which went deeply into her foot, so they rushed to the emergency room.
Georgia's mom, Ashley Sullivan, 48, shared this account exclusively with PEOPLE, saying, "I saw a couple inches of metal sticking out of her foot. Since I knew how long those hooks were, I told her, 'Don't look, just focus on me — you'll be okay.' Of my five kids, Georgia is my least extravagantly dressed kids. So the most awful bit was that I did not also equally have to freak out -- plus find out that my daughter's foot had been impaled with a crochet hook."
Georgia was sedated lightly, and the medical staff removed the needle quickly. She recalled being shocked, but she could hear the doctors talking outside the room when they were surprised by the injury. "I was in shock, but I could hear them saying like, 'She got what stuck in her foot?' They couldn't believe it."
The hospital staff were just as shocked. "They were surprised -- none of them had ever seen anything like that before," Ashley said.
The crochet needle who hit Georgia Sullivan. Photo: Ashley Sullivan/PEOPLE
Georgia is recovering from the shocking accident
Luckily, Georgia is projected to have a quick recovery. For three weeks, she will be in a medical boot and, according to her doctor, no physical therapy is needed nor any long-term intervention so long as she’s able to tolerate walking. The news was a relief for Georgia, who plays rugby and basketball, and feared the injury could take her out.
During her recovery, she’s been getting comfortable with her favourite foods and family time. “When I was medicated, I had my mom promise to get me frozen yogurt,” she explains. Ashley also mentioned Georgia has been utilising her downtime with books and her iPad. While she initially required crutches, she is now walking unassisted in the boot.
Georgia is anxious to get back to sports and is looking forward to being back on her basketball team soon. “I really don’t want to miss the rest of the season,” she said. “I had a rookie match coming up, but I’m not sure that I’ll make it.”
Maggie, who learned how to crochet by watching YouTube videos now has herself crocheting everything from handbags to stuffed animals. But there is a downside to her new hobby: "She's not glued to screens, which is great," Ashley said, "but now we have crochet hooks and yarn everywhere." Ashley, smiling, said, "I am always telling her to clean up after herself. Now we can say, 'See, this is why you clean up your crap!'"