A mum is demanding safety checks at all Bradford Council recreation areas after she says her seven-year-old foster daughter almost choked to death on a climbing frame.
Seven-year-old Jade Jackson was on a school visit to Eversley Drive recreation area when the accident happened. Her head slipped under a chain on a combined climbing frame and slide when she spun out of control on her way down. As she reached the bottom her neck became wedged.
Her school believes it was only the quick actions of a teacher who pulled her free which prevented Jade from suffering serious injury.
Christine Harrison, head teacher at Holmefield First School, said: "I have spoken to the teacher who helped free Jade and she feels that if the child had not been supervised her injuries could have been much worse."
Bradford Council's safety unit officers are now investigating the accident and examining the equipment.
Mrs Harrison said: "Parents need to know that their children are safe and we have a duty to report anything we see as dangerous."
Jade escaped with cuts and grazes to her neck, but has been left shaken by the incident, which happened on Monday afternoon. Today she spoke of her fear when she got caught up in the chain.
"Someone pushed me and my head went under the chain. I could feel it tight around my neck and I was really scared. I don't know what would have happened if the teacher hadn't been there. She pulled me out from under the chain," she said.
Her foster mum Marion Fimbow, of Hartland Road, Holme Wood, said: "I'm just grateful there was a teacher on hand to help her. I dread to think what could have happened if she had been there on her own. She could have ended up hanging herself."
Mrs Finbow urged the Council to review the play equipment it uses.
"You don't put metal chains on kiddie's slides. There's no reason why it should be there other than to help kids pull themselves back up, but that in itself is dangerous," she said.
"I accept that some of the equipment in these play areas is damaged by older children - the swings at Eversley Drive for example are always being vandalised. But there's a difference between damaged equipment and something unsafe to start with."
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