Mother feels lets down after son hurt in swing accident
Friday 14th October 2011, 2:29PM BST.
Beverley Hope-Smith and 11-year-old son Sasha, who was hurt when a piece of play equipment collapsed on him at Alderney’s St Anne’s School. (Picture by James Varley) 1187779
Beverley Hope-Smith and 11-year-old son Sasha, who was hurt when a piece of play equipment collapsed on him at Alderney’s St Anne’s School. (Picture by James Varley) 1187779
A MOTHER of a St Anne’s School pupil feels the Education Department has let her and her son down after a piece of play equipment collapsed on him.
Beverley Hope-Smith, 50, was appalled to hear that a swing her son Sasha, 11, was sitting on gave way and fell on him.
The accident left Sasha with a bleeding tongue.
Mrs Hope-Smith claimed Education told her regular inspections of school play equipment were not done as often as they should be.
But, responding, an Education spokesman told the Guernsey Press that regular inspections were carried out, although it confirmed it was reviewing its procedures as a result of the incident.
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11-year old on a swing?….
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In 1978 when I was 6, I bit my tongue after falling 2 feet off a climbing frame onto my face. It bled quite profusely for half an hour. It didn’t get me a compensation payout or make the papers though. The press covered Sasha’s story correctly by stating it was an “accident”, like mine was all those years ago. So what’s changed?
This kind of thing really makes my teeth itch.
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Before you all jump in, I omitted to say that the strut I was standing on, broke away from the rest of the frame due to rust. It was not dissimilar to Sasha’s case.
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Does anyone believe Education anymore?
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The condition and need for inspection of the playground equipment was mentioned to the headteacher a year ago.
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They’re not asking for compensation. I can see that something out to be done – not something to make one’s ‘teeth itch’ at all.
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Times are certainly changing! I thought these sorts of accidents were all part of growing up? Or not, maybe, if you’re still using a swing at 11 years old? I can’t imagine that my folks would have been “appalled” by this sort of incident but I suppose with the modern way of living where safety issues are thrust into every situation, particularly involving children, this is the modern response. But accidents will continue to happen.
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In the late 1980s when I was in the Infants’ at La Houguette, the rusted swing collapsed and the bar at the top hit me on the head. It hurt, but no-one seemed to bat an eyelid!
Come on Mrs Hope-Smith, the regulatory checks had been carried out and it was an accident. I’m glad your son hasn’t suffered any permanent damage, but accidents have always and will always happen. They’re part of growing up!
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Err whats wrong with swinging at 11 exactly??
I was having a swing at the park with my children on the weekend and I’m 31.
I was telling them all about how much nicer Delancey Park was 20 years ago when it was properly looked after by the excellent park keeper, kids used to put their rubbish in the bin, have respect for there elders, and stay out and play till sun down when it was time to get home for tea.
oh how times have changed, but swinging is still good
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I remember lots of tumbles at School which often resulted in bleeding, my Mother used to dread sports day when I would toddle off in my whites and come home with them covered in blood. I agree that the swings need checking every year, but to make a news story out of this is a bit overkill, besides was the boy “just sitting” I remember everything I used to do on the swings at school and the park and just sitting was not one of them
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