A mother was shopping at the Parkway Place Mall in Huntsville, AL on Saturday, 25 February 2023, when her daughter requested to jump on the "Mall Jump" trampoline attraction located in the food court. A bungee cord snapped mid-air sending her daughter to the floor. Emergency medical responders were called and the mother is warning other parents about the safety of this attraction.
WAFF 48 News reported that 9-year-old Tiana asked her mother, Alisa Crutcher if she could bounce on the mall trampoline attraction, Mall Jump--where a child is fastened into a harness attached to bungee cords. The attraction allows children to jump higher than on a typical trampoline when it operates correctly.
What could go wrong?
Mother Alisa Crutcher quickly found out that a lot can go wrong if the attraction isn't properly maintained.
A Bungee Cord 'Snapped' While Her Daughter was Mid-Air
While her daughter Tiana was jumping mid-air in the Mall Jump attraction, one of the bungee cords snapped, and Alisa Crutcher watched helplessly as her child was "propelled to the side of the trampoline and she hit the floor." (Source: WAFF 48 News)
It is a moment that stops the heart of any parent wondering if their child is okay.
Alisa Crutcher and other onlookers in the Parkway Place Mall food court witnessed the incident and called emergency assistance, and Huntsville Emergency Medical Services Inc. (HEMSI) arrived.
The Good News is Her Daughter, Tiana, was Not Injured
The good news is that Alisa's daughter, Tiana, is okay, but it is not something that any parent wants to see happen to their child.
HEMSI responders arrived to the scene and assessed Tiana for injuries. Fortunately, she did not suffer any injuries during the incident.
Her mother is relieved that her daughter is okay given what happened, and knowing it could have been much worse.
She told WAFF 48 News:
“She was very blessed, she is definitely blessed. She is a tough little country girl.” -Alisa Crutcher, Mother of child involved & witness (Source: WAFF 48 News)
Alisa posted a "public service announcement" to other parents on Facebook about this potentially dangerous attraction to prevent other parents from being in the same situation. Others that were in the Parkway Place Mall and witnessed the incident have also been posting about it on Facebook.
Alisa Wants Other Parents to Know that Mall Trampolines Aren't Safe
Alisa is very thankful that her daughter came out unharmed, but if something is not done to maintain the attraction, someone else's child could be hurt. No one's child should be in danger, especially when this is an attraction that is popular among children.
Alisa shared that she did not sign a waiver before letting her child get on this attraction. Mall Jump has the following posted on the attraction:
- “I, the participant, understand and acknowledge that play on this amusement device entails both known and unknown risks including, but not limited to, physical injury from falling...”
- “...I expressly agree to indemnify and hold Mall Jump Holdings I, Inc harmless for all such fees and costs.”
Alisa also told WAFF 48 News at the time of their reporting that she had not been contacted by the Parkway Place Mall nor Mall Jump about the incident.
Alisa told WAFF 48 News concerns she would share with other parents.
She said:
"Something needs to be done about this so other moms need to know that 'Don't let your kids jump on that thing 'cause they are not maintaining it.'" -Alisa Crutcher, Mother of child involved & witness (Source: WAFF 48 News)
Parkway Place Mall Issued a Statement About the Incident
Parkway Place Mall issued the following statement about the Mall Jump attraction:
"We're aware of the incident and the operator is closed until all appropriate repairs have been made. Additional questions about this situation should be directed to the operator." -Molly Bell (Source: Parkway Place Mall)
The problem is that no one has been able to successfully reach the operator of Mall Jump for comments since the incident. Go figure.
It is very important that we keep children safe, and if this mall attraction is not being properly maintained, then it needs to be shut down.
Please help others be informed about this story by sharing this article on social media with friends and family.
Sources
Alisa Crutcher's profile on Facebook.
Parkway Place Mall official website.
Peppenhorst, Claudia. "Girl falls on bungee trampoline at Parkway Place Mall." WAFF 48 News. 1 March 2023.
YouTube: WAFF 48 News & Weather account. "Girl falls on bungee trampoline at Parkway Place Mall." 1 March 2023.
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