Would-be good Samaritan arrested after making a bad situation worse

When a man became stuck under a lawnmower, first responders weren’t the only ones to offer a helping hand. Officials say an unqualified person offered to help and wound up running the man over even more. Police say they were called to the scene of a man who had his leg pinned underneath a lawnmower which was turned off.

A resident of Portageville in Wyoming County, New York, reportedly was attempting to free his mower from being stuck when it pinned his foot down. In addition to calling for police help, he shouted for a neighbour. Christopher R. Ratcliffe, 31, responded to the man’s shouts for help and told him he was a government rescue worker.



Police say in addition to explaining his alleged government position, he brought his SUV, which was unregistered and not inspected, to attempt to tow the lawnmower off the trapped resident. The idea went amiss when police say Ratcliffe hit the accelerator while still drive, when he was attempting to reverse. The momentum pushed the SUV over an embankment and pulled the lawnmower even more over the trapped man.

First responders arrived at the scene soon after and saved the man from being fully trapped underneath the lawnmower. He was rushed to a local hospital and treated, then released, for his injuries. Ratcliffe was arrested soon after police learned his vehicle was not up to code. Police say they also learned he had six active suspensions on his driver’s licence. Police charged him with second degree aggravated unlicensed operation, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, uninspected motor vehicle and unregistered vehicle.