Chadstone injury sparks warning about lift safety

A mum is seeking compensation against one of Victoria’s biggest retail giants, after her toddler injured her hand at the popular centre — and she’s also warning other parents to watch out too.

Skyla Lay's injured hand one day after being jammed in a Chadstone lift

A toddler who jammed her hand in the gap between two sections of a lift door at Chadstone shopping centre has prompted a warning from her worried mum.

Sok Lay is urging other parents to be extra careful around elevators after her two-year-old daughter Skyla’s hand was trapped for four minutes before staff were able to free her.

Ms Lay says Skyla is still “traumatised” from the January 26 incident.

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Her hand remains injured, marked and in pain, the Rowville mum claims.

The small gap sits beside the electronic door, and Ms Lay said she was too busy worrying about Skyla’s fingers getting trapped in the actual doorway, she didn’t see the dangers associated with the gap.

The injured hand the day after the Chadstone incident.

Now she wants signs installed so other children don’t get hurt.

“No one wants their child to get hurt and you’re always looking out for things that can go wrong, but this was not foreseeable at all,” Ms Lay said in tears.

“It’s just dangerous because I looked away for a second and she’d become trapped. The scary thing is, if the lift door had shut, her hand would have been chopped off.”

Ms Lay says her daughter’s hand is still swollen, has two deep lines, and she constantly complains of pain, despite x rays ruling out any long-term injuries.

But she said the retail giant didn’t care.

“From Chadstone to the insurer, it is all about processes, nothing about human emotions,” she said.

The gap in the Chadstone lift.

“Signs would help because I just don’t think other parents would realise how dangerous it is.”

In an email to Ms Lay seen by the Leader, Chadstone’s head of operations said as a father, he understood how frightening it must have been but ultimately the responsibility lay on the mother.

“(Our) machines fully comply with all applicable standards,” he said.

“As with all sliding doors, it is crucial that adults supervise children to ensure they are not putting themselves at risk.”

The injured hand.

CCTV footage also shows a staff member appeared on scene within a minute, and Skyla’s hand was freed within four minutes by a centre security member.

Vicinity Centres spokesman Joel Crean said the incident was being investigated by the insurer and could not comment on it any further.

“The safety and wellbeing of our customers is always our priority,” he said.