A four-year-old had been enjoying a day out sightseeing with his family when disaster struck on a train station escalator. The incident took place on the evening of 1 January after the family had watched the New Year’s day parade and eaten pizza on their day out. The little boy was wearing Wellington boots and one of his feet somehow got trapped in the escalator.
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His parents frantically tried to get his foot free, but as his mother struggled to locate an emergency break, the father ultimately was forced to yank his son - and his foot - out of the machine. His son's foot had been trapped in between the step and the side of the escalator and tragically, when his father pulled him out, part of his toes were torn off.
A doctor helped at the scene
Thankfully, a doctor was nearby when the accident happened and helped to treat the boy immediately. A station escalator technician freed the severed toes and placed them on ice. The boy was rushed to St Thomas’ Hospital which is nearby the station. Tragically, the toes could not be reattached by the doctors who treated the little boy.
The boy’s father has said:
Our little boy has been really suffering and is now completely terrified of going near any escalators or lifts.
Legal action against Network rail
The boy’s family has decided to take legal action against Network Rail after ‘a lovely family day out ended in absolute disaster’. The law firm representing the family is pursuing a negligence claim under the assertion that the escalator was either faulty, unsafe due to a design flaw, or in a state of disrepair.
The boy’s father said:
I am confident our little boy wasn’t doing anything he shouldn’t have been on the escalator, we were right next to him, and it was such a frightening experience to see him suddenly trapped like that.
The parents are telling their boy’s story to warn other families with young kids that they must ‘be extremely vigilant’ when travelling around London.
A spokesperson for Network Rail has said:
Everyone in Network Rail and particularly the team at London Bridge station are saddened by this incident, however, while the case is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further at this stage.
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Sources used:
BBC: London Bridge: Family sues after boy loses toe on escalator
Evening Standard: Little boy’s toes torn off after getting stuck in London Bridge station escalator
