Parramatta Westfield Christmas shoppers injured in balloon drop chaos
They came for cash and retail vouchers but one shopper caught in a dangerous balloon-drop crowd crush at a Sydney shopping centre — where shoppers were injured and even Santa was knocked down — said what they actually won was not worth the chaos.
NSW
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Free parking and coffee vouchers were some of the prizes contained in a pre-Christmas balloon drop at a Sydney shopping centre that resulted in a dangerous crowd crush.
Police say a number of people were knocked over and injured, with five taken to hospital, when the crowd surged as the prize-filled balloons were released during Westfield Parramatta’s “mega balloon drop” at midnight on Tuesday.
Hundreds had gathered inside the main shopping area waiting for the balloons to be dropped from two huge nets, which was advertised as “filled with Westfield gift cards, retailer and partner prizes, retailer vouchers and exclusive offers”.
Lauren Borg, who was caught up in the stampede, said the prizes she scored were not worth the drama.
“This was not worth winning a free coffee and a day of valet parking but for all those concerned I’m safe,” she wrote on Facebook.
The event quickly erupted into chaos as shoppers were pushed into safety barriers and hurled onto the floor as the balloons began to drop.
Video shows families screaming for help as the huge crowd surged towards the balloons.
It’s believed up to a dozen people were treated at the scene and five taken to hospital.
“They were at that location to grab balloons as they were released and apparently the balloons had small gifts inside,” a NSW Police spokeswoman said.
Even the Westfield Santa was thrown back several metres onto the ground during the chaos.
Paramedics treated 12 shoppers at the scene and five people were taken to hospital, according to NSW Ambulance.
Inspector Phil Templeman said they were responding to reports that the balloon drop “caused a stamped of people to hustle for the prizes”.
“Three of the transported patients had more serious issues including traumatic chest injuries, neck and back pain as well as nausea and dizziness,” Insp Templeman said in a statement on Tuesday.
He said it was “incredibly lucky” that no one was more seriously injured.
“As we go into the busy holiday period and many of our shopping centres become crowded with people, we urge the community to be patient and ensure the safety of themselves and those around them,” he said.
Westfield had been promoting the balloon drop as part of a 33-hour non-stop shop.
Shopping centre owner Scentre Group said their team acted swiftly to support customers, contact emergency services and make the area safe.
“Our team are continuing to speak with affected customers directly,” a spokesman said in a statement.
Environmental advocacy group Sea Shepherd Australia had criticised the balloon drop on Facebook hours before it took place in the midst of the busiest day on the Christmas shopping calendar.
“We’ve been alerted that Westfield Parramatta is planning to hold ‘two mega balloon drops’ tomorrow, on Christmas Eve – their message to shoppers is to ‘get popping’,” the group wrote.
“The volume of waste aside, just one balloon that escapes into the environment can cause harm to wildlife.”
Last New Year’s Eve at a Manila shopping centre a proposed balloon drop was cancelled over environmental concerns.
Originally published as Parramatta Westfield Christmas shoppers injured in balloon drop chaos
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