'Death trap' slide closed after toddler injured
Wakefield Council have closed the slide "as a precaution" following the incident.
- Published
A children's slide described a "death trap" by parents has been closed off after a toddler was filmed falling from it.
Kaysha Jarvis, 29, said she "felt sick" when she saw her two year old son Freddie land on his head after toppling from the ride in Pontefract Park on Wednesday.
Freddie suffered grazes to his face and leg when he "flew off" the piece of zig-zag play equipment.
Park managers Wakefield Council apologised and said the slide would remain closed until staff were "fully confident" it was safe to use.
Kaysha Jarvis and her son Freddie at Pontefract Park
The striped chute only opened to the public in April 2023 as part of a £450,000 redevelopment of the playground.
Ms Jarvis, from Castleford, said she was horrified when her son fell off as he reached the first of two sharp bends.
"He landed on his head and his neck bent and then he rolled down the hill," she told the BBC.
"It makes you feel so sick thinking what could’ve happened.
Freddie suffered grazes to his face and leg when he came off the slide in Pontefract Park
"I really don't know how he got away without breaking anything."
She later decided to share the video on Facebook to warn other families of the potential dangers, and contacted the council.
"I knew the slide had issues before, I thought it had all been redone and was safe now," she added.
"I just wanted to show how unsafe it obviously still is."
The slide at Pontefract Park has been closed by Wakefield Council
The council notice affixed to the slide
Ms Jarvis suggested that an age limit could be imposed in the fairytale-themed play zone to prevent similar incidents in future.
Wakefield Council said it had been in touch with her and had found experiences shared by other parents on social media "concerning".
Gary Blenkinsop, the council's service director for environment and community protection, said: “We’re really sorry about what’s happened.
“It’s been very concerning to read the comments, especially as the company who made the slide had assured us that these issues were fixed."
'Death trap'
Helen Bankole, who saw the video of Freddie, said she also had concerns about the equipment.
"It's an absolute death trap," she said.
"My three-year-old has been down a few times but I make her tuck her arms in as it's so fast."
Khrystyna Pankevych's son Dominik broke his nose on one of the other slides
Khrystyna Pankevych, who lives in Pontefract, said Ms Jarvis' video reminded her of an occasion her son injured himself on a different slide in the park last year.
The 34-year-old said Dominik, then aged nine, broke his nose and required hospital treatment when he used the metal slide.
"It’s absolutely terrifying," she said.
"We are expecting a playground to be checked, especially if it's so expensive."
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