26-12-2024 (SINGAPORE) A family outing turned traumatic when a metal hook fell from height, striking a toddler at a playground in Sengkang East Way on Christmas Eve.
The incident occurred around 11 am when Mrs Wong Yi Xin was at the playground between Blocks 172D and 173A with her three children and their domestic helper. As they were preparing to leave, her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, whom she was carrying, was suddenly struck on the head by a falling metal hook.
“I heard a metallic sound and my daughter began crying immediately. There was blood flowing from a wound on her head,” Mrs Wong recounted. “I looked up but couldn’t spot anyone above us.” The incident left her four and six-year-old sons distraught as they witnessed their sister’s injury.
Paramedics arrived promptly to attend to the young girl, who showed remarkable resilience. She had stopped crying during the ambulance journey and even expressed feeling better. According to Mrs Wong, doctors determined that while the wound was deep, it didn’t require stitches, and her daughter was discharged after treatment.
“The doctors advised us to monitor her for 24 hours for symptoms like vomiting or dizziness, but she’s doing well so far,” Mrs Wong said. The metal hook, approximately 10 centimetres in length, is believed to be used for securing water pipes along the corridor walkways. Local residents reported that similar hooks had recently been found discarded near stairwells after being removed from their original positions.
Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident. A spokesperson stated that the two-year-old girl was conscious when taken to hospital.
“The officers mentioned that while the hook is lightweight and could be blown by wind, the force with which it struck my daughter suggests it was dropped from height,” Mrs Wong explained. She expressed hope that CCTV footage from lifts and residents’ cameras might help identify the source.
The playground, situated near a kindergarten, is surrounded by two blocks with elevated corridors where similar hooks secure water pipes in garden beds. Mr Yu, a 37-year-old clerk and resident, expressed concern about the many children who use the playground after kindergarten hours.
Another resident, Mr Tan, 63, retired, said he usually takes his grandchildren to larger playgrounds elsewhere and will now definitely avoid this location following the incident.
