A seemingly routine trip on an escalator turned into a horrifying experience, as one 6-year-old boy and his family discovered at the Botanic Gardens MRT station.
The chilling incident occurred on Jul. 1, when the young boy’s foot got caught in the escalator, leaving him with a severe injury, according to Shin Min Daily News.
The Traumatic Encounter
The incident unfolded at around 2:30 pm as the boy, accompanied by his parents and younger brother, was riding the escalator.
The boy was wearing a pair of Crocs, and halfway down the escalator, he suddenly let out a cry of distress, catching his parents off guard.
The boy’s father reacted swiftly, rushing to release his son from the escalator’s grip. Passersby, seeing the distress, offered their assistance, but the mother believed her son’s injury to be minor and politely declined their help.
It was only later that they realized the seriousness of the situation when they found the boy’s toe was severely wounded and bleeding profusely. Moreover, his last toe was nearly fractured.
Seeking immediate medical attention, the family approached the MRT staff for assistance. The staff closed off the escalator and brought the injured boy to the first aid room.
However, the first aid treatment was deemed insufficient, leading to the decision to call for an ambulance. Unfortunately, valuable time was wasted in the process, further worsening the boy’s condition.
At the National University Hospital, medical experts found that the boy’s toe was dislocated and lacerated, necessitating a two-hour surgical operation that night.
To aid in his recovery, a small metal rod was inserted into the boy’s injured toe. The mother expressed her discontent with the MRT staff’s handling of the situation, labeling their actions as unprofessional and inefficient.
A Gift Basket, but No Compensation
In the aftermath of the accident, the MRT staff sent the family a gift basket as a gesture of concern. However, this thoughtful gesture did little to alleviate the family’s worries, as they were later informed that the MRT could not offer them compensation and they said that there wasn’t any problems with their escalator.
The family’s pleas for compensation were met with bureaucratic delays and the need for further investigation, adding to their frustration and financial burden.
Beyond the physical injuries, the traumatizing encounter has left lasting emotional scars on both the boy and his family.
The mother shared that they are now scared of escalators after the incident, and hope that the authorities can compensate them for their losses.