Asda store says sorry after twins hurt in trolley accident
12:00, 20 October 2017
A supermarket has apologised to a mum whose twin tots suffered injuries when they crashed headfirst from a trolley on to a moving travelator.
The two-year-old boys were going up to the second floor at Asda’s Chatham store with mum Siobhan O’Brien.
She was temporarily distracted by her three-year-old son and the trolley tipped upside down.
The panic-stricken mum grappled with all three screaming children and eventually scrambled to the top.
Miss O’Brien took the twins Tommy and Teddy to Medway hospital’s A&E where Tommy was treated for concussion and both for cuts and bruises.
He had to have his chin glued and a gash stitched while Teddy underwent a thorough examination.
The mum-of-three is now angry with shop staff, who she said did not react immediately or stop the electric stairway to investigate what happened while she was there.
Miss O’Brien, of Yarrow Road, Walderslade, has used the specially-adapted child carrier before which she said should have a safety grip on the travelator surface.
The 24-year-old said: “What happened to us was bad enough but what if it had involved a new-born baby a or smaller child?
“They could have died.”
After the incident on Monday afternoon, Miss O’Brien was told by doctors to keep a close eye on the boys who had suffered drowsiness and bouts of vomiting.
She said: “It was really scary. There was one girl about my age behind me who supported me, but there were no staff in sight.
“And it took 10 minutes for a deputy manager to arrive.
“I have tried to make a formal complaint, but they have told me I must go through a solicitor.
“I won’t be using that store again.”
An Asda spokesman said: “We’re very sorry for the distress this accident must have caused Ms O’Brien and her children and we hope Tommy and Teddy feel better soon.
“We’re thoroughly investigating what could have happened here and will keep Ms O’Brien up to date with our findings.”
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