“I’ve always been a Croc buyer for my kids, but hands down, I will forever buy them Crocs for all of the rest of their lives.” That’s the sentiment mom of five and Texas Roadhouse worker Alison (@debtfreewithali) expressed in a viral TikTok video. She explains that it’s because the shoes saved her daughter’s foot after a “freak accident.”
Here’s how it went down.
‘Sophia got hurt’
In the video, Alison explains that she picked up a second job at Texas Roadhouse and had just begun her first training shift. Her oldest son texted her asking her to pick up sugar on the way home, and she thought nothing of the request. Then he called her twice a little bit later, which was strange to her because they normally text and he knew she was busy working.
That’s when she checks her smart watch and sees that he texted her, “Sophia got hurt. It’s bad.”
Sophia is her 3-year-old daughter. Upon finding this out, she called her son, who said he thought things were OK. However, she heard her husband on the phone with police in the background and realized the situation was serious. She reported this to her trainer, who allowed her to go home and check on her family.
When she gets to her home, her husband and daughter are in an ambulance. She asks the EMTs what’s going on and one says sharply, “Well, it’s not good.” They inform her that they will be going “lights and sirens” and that she shouldn’t try to keep up. When she makes it to the hospital and checks in, they will see to it that she gets to her daughter.
In the car, her husband explains that he was mowing the lawn and Sophia wanted to hang out with him outside. He says he was watching her, making her stay behind him on the side opposite to the one the mower spits stuff out from, and being “so careful.” However, out of nowhere, Sophia ran in front of the mower and tripped and fell. Her father released the mower and ran to help her.
Alison says Sophia doesn’t typically wear shoes outside. Luckily, she was wearing her favorite pair of Crocs that day.
“Had she not had these Crocs on, I mean, she probably would’ve lost her foot,” Alison says. She explains that the mower ripped the Croc off and it got stuck in the blades, stopping them. The blades still got to her foot, but they missed all of the bones and tendons. Though the blades missed the “important parts,” the cut was still deep enough that Sophia had to be sedated and have her cut sewn shut from the inside.
When Alison got home, she inspected the shoes. “There is not a mark on these Crocs,” she says. “They’re not cut. Like, they’re completely fine. There’s no cuts on ‘em… They’re a little tinted green from fresh cut grass.”
As for Sophia, her mom reports that she is “on the mend.” In an update video, Alison says Sophia can tip toe but can’t put her full weight on her foot yet as the stitches run along the bottom. She also adds that she has not heard from Crocs and does not intend to reach out.
‘I would become feral’
In the comments section, many showed sympathy for the father and brother who had to deal with the worst of the situation. They also criticized how the EMT spoke to the mother and didn’t allow the parents to ride in the ambulance. Alison explained in the update video that they had asked to ride in the truck but were told they could not because the EMTs were going “lights and sirens.”
One viewer wrote, “First of[f] GRATEFUL she is ‘okay’. As a paramedic I’m so sorry for the lack of empathy seeming[ly] shown by the crew. Also slightly infuriated they didn’t take you or dad with them in the truck.”
“My son is an amputee because of a lawn mower accident,” a second viewer said. “It was the scariest moment and I urge everyone to reconsider using mowers around any children. you just never know. So happy your daughter is ok!”
“I’m gonna be honest if an EMT didn’t let me ride in the ambulance with my THREE YEAR OLD I would become feral,” another wrote.
Is it safe to mow the lawn with children around?
In an article about lawn mower safety for families, healthychildren.org states, “Power lawn mowers are one of the most dangerous tools around the home. Each year, more than 5,000 children are treated in emergency departments for injuries caused by power mowers.”
It continues, “Make sure that younger children are indoors or at a safe distance, well away from the area that you plan to mow.”
It also noted that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children be at least 12 years old to operate a walk-behind mower and 16 years old to operate a riding mower.
Additionally, it states that children should not be allowed as passengers on riding mowers.
@debtfreewithali Honestly shout out to @Crocs – I will FOREVER be shouting from the rooftops for everyone to buy these shoes and I will forever buy them for all 5 of my kids. Please be kind. This was a freak accident that could have happened to anyone. Obviously we will never have her outside while he mows again.. it just all happened so fast & no one knows what they would do in a situation until they’re actually in it #crocs #croc #texasroadhouse #lawnmower #accident #freakaccident #hospital #trauma #emergency #ambulance ♬ original sound – Alison ?
“Remain aware of where children are and do not allow them near the area where you are working,” it adds. “Children tend to be attracted to mowers in use.”
The Mary Sue reached out to Alison via TikTok direct message and comment. It reached out to Crocs via email.
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