Footage showed the children became trapped inside a swing with three being hospitalised after they became trapped inside the structure at a playpark at seaside attraction
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Ayr Beach: Children injured after swing breaks at play park
Children were rushed to hospital after a swing snapped and trapped them at a play park.
Shocking footage showed the moment that children were trapped inside a swing at an Ayr beach park, southwest of Glasgow, after the cable snapped. The troubling clip showed a group of boys attempting to free themselves from the swing on March 9.
One of the boys managed to squeeze from from the wreckage while others struggled to get out. Several girls, who were not on the swing at the time, could be heard laughing before starting to panic when they realised the boys were in trouble.
“I’m going to cry,” one of the girls could be heard saying. Parents said how two boys, both aged 12, were taken to Ayr Hospital after the incident at the busy shorefront attraction.
One boy was left with a concussion while another was checked by a medic after complaining of breathing difficulties as well as back and neck pain. A third child is understood to have been taken to hospital the following day after suffering a concussion.
A parent who did not want to be named told the Daily Record: “I got a phone call from my son about 5pm. He said something at the park had broken and he had fallen and hurt himself.
“A lady then phone to say they were all on a swing down which snapped and they all fell. I rushed down when I got there he was with his friend. His friend said his head was sore so I took him home. I took my son to hospital and his friend was taken by his parents.
“The doctors did a full check over and told my son he had some soft tissue damage. His friend was told he had concussion.”
The parent has told how they could have since watched the video and found the whole incident concerning. They added: “It could have been a lot worse. A child shouldn’t go out to a playpark and end up in hospital.
“It was really distressing seeing my son trapped under it. You can see how solid the swing is, there is metal chains on it. For that to fall to the ground and hit them could have caused a serious injury.”
Parents reported the incident to the council on Monday but claimed to have been stunned by the response. The same parent added: “I just don’t think they are really taking it seriously.
“All they said is that they will remove it and have a look at what has gone wrong. But there isn’t really a proper investigation.
“They haven’t spoken to us. The park is going to be even busier as the summer approaches and parents have the right to know that the equipment is safe.”
A South Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “The safety of our play areas is paramount and play equipment is inspected on a weekly basis by qualified Council employees.
“We are currently investigating the incident and the equipment has been removed from the play area. The equipment in question is not in use in any other Council play area in South Ayrshire. We wish the young people affected a speedy recovery.”
