MANILA, Philippines – A 7-year-old boy was severely injured after his hand got stuck in an escalator in a mall in Caloocan City Wednesday night.

Felix Aparejado was riding the escalator in Puregold Mall Monumento at around 7 p.m. when he slipped and fell, leaving his left hand stuck on the escalator.

Melody Aparejado, the boy's aunt, said: “Natapilok lang siya. Sinabi nung isa kong anak eh natapilok. Hindi nakakita, naipit na. Kung may guwardya nung araw na yun sa escalator, maitatayo niya yung pamangkin ko.”

A rescuer said Felix’s hand injury was so severe that a portion of his bone had stuck out of his skin.

Rescuers had to shut down the escalator to help the injured boy. It took rescuers 4 hours to remove Felix's hand from the escalator.

“Ci-nut naming yung escalator (sic) bago nailabas yung kamay ng bata. Yung kamay lumabas na yung buto, pero may dalawang swero na nakakabit ka agad eh, kaya hindi na siya nahirapan,” Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) rescue personnel Nadi Colambado said.

Allegedly, mall guards initially barred MMDA rescuers from entering the establishment. They also blamed Felix’s relatives for not looking after the child.

“Negligence niya yun eh. Naiwan niya yung bata na naglalaro, hindi niya napansin sumakay ng escalator kaya naaksidente,” said Puregold Mall Monumento officer-in-charge Norman Baclao.

It was already 11 p.m. when Felix was rushed to the Manila Central University Hospital for treatment. His relatives said he is now in stable condition.

The mall management said it will shoulder the boy's medical expenses. – report from Rafael Santos, ABS-CBN News