A 16-year-old boy in Guangdong suffered a shocking injury after accidentally kicking a stone while walking and using his mobile phone at the same time, local media reported.
The incident happened when the teenager, wearing slippers commonly referred to as “Guangdong provincial shoes” (flip-flops), was distracted by his phone and failed to notice a stone on the road.
According to Guangzhou Daily, the boy initially did not realise the severity of the injury, thinking he had only scraped his skin. He said he felt little pain at first and assumed it was a minor abrasion.
However, the situation quickly turned serious when he looked down and discovered that part of his second toe had been severed. The sharp edge of the stone reportedly caused the toe segment to detach completely upon impact.
He was immediately rushed to hospital, where doctors performed minimally invasive surgery to reattach the injured toe. Medical reports indicate that his recovery is progressing well.
The case has sparked attention online, with many netizens highlighting the dangers of walking while distracted by mobile phones, especially in unsafe footwear such as slippers that offer little protection.
Authorities have since reminded the public to remain alert while walking outdoors to avoid preventable accidents caused by inattention.
