Scene of the accident at Barryroe Co Cork where a 3 year old child was knocked down. Photo: Denis Boyle

A TODDLER was rushed by air-ambulance to hospital after suffering critical injuries in a traffic accident in west Cork.

The three year old boy was knocked down by a vehicle outside Barryroe, on the Bandon to Timoleague road, shortly before 7pm.

The child apparently became caught underneath the vehicle and was dragged for a short distance.

A Health Service Executive (HSE) ambulance was on the scene within minutes and paramedics made the decision to request an Irish Coastguard emergency hospital transfer

The Irish Coastguard’s Shannon based helicopter transferred the youngster to Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Dublin after an emergency pick-up outside Bandon.

The child suffered multiple injuries including crush wounds and is understood to be in a critical condition.

Bandon Gardai sealed off the scene pending an examination by accident investigators.

The driver was treated at the scene for shock.

The child is not from west Cork and is understood to have been holidaying in the area with his family.

The boy's parents are being given a garda escort to Dublin to be by their son's hospital bedside.

It is the second emergency hospital transfer in three days undertaken by the Irish Coastguard helicopter in west Cork after an 81 year old farmer was gored by a bull in Drimoleague last Tuesday.

Online Editors