Boy Who Lost Arm Is in Critical Condition

A Panorama City boy whose arm was cut off in a freak accident and then reattached at UCLA Medical Center was in critical condition Saturday, hospital officials said.

Anthony Tirado, 8, was injured Thursday when the trailing end of a rope coiled around his shoulder became entangled in a wheel of the family car, the medical center said in a statement.

Anthony’s mother was taking her son to his uncle’s house for a holiday camping trip. Anthony took along a length of rope, which he had coiled around his shoulder. But when he got into the back seat of the car and shut the door, a portion was left dangling outside. When the boy’s mother drove away the rope became entangled in a rear wheel.

“She drove just a few feet until Anthony yelled ‘Stop!’ but by then the rope had been pulled tight, severing his right arm above the elbow,” the hospital statement said.

Doctors reattached Anthony’s arm Thursday night during more than six hours of surgery, reconnecting all nerves and restoring circulation to the arm and hand.

Doctors said they do not yet know whether the boy will regain full use of his limb.