Fridge Crushes 3 year old

[|Matt|]

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=124443

Fridge crushes boy to death
Wednesday Aug 23 21:53 AEST

A three-year-old boy was killed when he was crushed by a refrigerator at a home at Queanbeyan, near Canberra.

A NSW police spokeswoman would not confirm details of the incident, but said the child had died in "an extremely tragic accident" about noon (AEST) on Sunday.

There were no suspicious circumstances, she said.

ABC Radio reported Wednesday the child died when a refrigerator fell on top of him.

The accident is believed to have occurred while a family was moving house.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

We have all heard the jokes about people getting fridges thrown at them and such, but unfortunately it actually happened and as a result a 3 year old was killed.
I fail to see how this could have happened though. Unless the fridge was being moved and the toddler got in the way and the fridge was dropped. Fridges don't just fall over because they feel like it.
RIP and condolences to the family.

[Robb]

You wouldn't know what condition the fridge was like though, considering it happened in Struggle Town (Queanbeyan)..

Pretty sad events, and I agree with you that fridges dont just fall over - from the sounds of it, it happend when they were moving it.
It kind of reminds me of all the stories of people being killed by vending machines, only 3 year olds.

Condolences to his family, would be hard to loose a child in circumstances like that..

[ozz]

We should ban all fridges. They are obviously much to dangerous.

[nizai]

There were calls for restrictions on plasma sales last year when a kid got crushed by a 52 incher :D

You cant legislate against unfortunate accidents, nor stupidity.

N

[Binaural]

It sounds like the parents made a mistake in letting the kid be around when the fridge was being moved. I can imagine what happened - the vast majority of moving tasks are not hazardous, just hard work, so no reason to keep the kid with a babysitter. They've gone to pick up the fridge, the kid has come over to have a look, the movers have dropped the fridge (or it's fallen off the truck or whatever) and it's fallen on the kid who was tagging along. I feel really sorry for the parents, this sort of accident must be bloody rare!

A side note: several kids have died when playing in old fridges - they are more dangerous to little kids than you might expect!

[scblack]

How terrible! Condolenscences.

It is simply AMAZING how quickly, quietly and in exactly the wrong place little kids can get. I have stomped on my little girls feet several times as she is so quiet coming up behind sometimes.

I'll just remember not to carry my fridge around near her........

[gravelclimber]

There were calls for restrictions on plasma sales last year when a kid got crushed by a 52 incher

I few things I have bought recently (a Plasma screen and a chest of draws) have an attachment on the back for anchoring to the wall behind. Sensible idea and perhaps it should be legislated that all heavy unstable objects that are likely to be parked against walls have them.

[dunk]

It is simply AMAZING how quickly, quietly and in exactly the wrong place little kids can get. I have stomped on my little girls feet several times as she is so quiet coming up behind sometimes.

Damn your lucky, I can hear my 2 1/2 year old at the end of the block, want to swap? She's cute and comes with an audible location alarm;)

[scblack]

I few things I have bought recently (a Plasma screen and a chest of draws) have an attachment on the back for anchoring to the wall behind. Sensible idea and perhaps it should be legislated that all heavy unstable objects that are likely to be parked against walls have them.

My screen has those hooks too. You have prompted me, and I may actually use them now.:o

Legislate for it? Pffftt.

How about we just expect people to do sensible stuff themselves?

[scblack]

Damn your lucky, I can hear my 2 1/2 year old at the end of the block, want to swap? She's cute and comes with an audible location alarm;)

Ha! You've got the terrible twos have you? She's only 15months, and just starting to exercise her lungs.

[gravelclimber]

Legislate for it? Pffftt.

I don't see why legislation would be bad - it would just be an add-on to current safety legislation that those goods already have to pass, such as electrical safety etc. Also, the hook thingies cost almost nothing to make so wouldn't add much to the price of goods that don't already have them. The owners can then decide if they want to install them or not.

[scblack]

The owners can then decide if they want to install them or not.

Hence my statement that legislation would be unnecessary......:)

[dunk]

Ha! You've got the terrible twos have you? She's only 15months, and just starting to exercise her lungs.

I wouldn't call it terrible, but I can sit in the pub on the corner and be able to hear when mum and daughter have come home:eek:

I don't see why legislation would be bad - it would just be an add-on to current safety legislation that those goods already have to pass, such as electrical safety etc. Also, the hook thingies cost almost nothing to make so wouldn't add much to the price of goods that don't already have them. The owners can then decide if they want to install them or not.

I agree, our industry last year had new safety standards introduced relating to strangulation dangers with small children. A lot of people were against the changes due to cost etc. In the long run the changes have cost next to nothing in terms of production and instsallation costs.

[cam-o]

I don't see why legislation would be bad - it would just be an add-on to current safety legislation that those goods already have to pass, such as electrical safety etc. Also, the hook thingies cost almost nothing to make so wouldn't add much to the price of goods that don't already have them. The owners can then decide if they want to install them or not.

I doubt very much it'd fix the problem though. It's already been stated that fridges generally don't just fall over, and the incident appears to have occured whilst the fridge was being moved so wouldn't have had it's retaining device in place. (if such a thing was mandated and installed)

I think a better solution is keep young kids elsewhere when moving large objects. When I ripped up my place with a bobcat, the kid, dog and cat were all locked inside the house. (with supervision) Only way to be sure.

[gravelclimber]

I doubt very much it'd fix the problem though. It's already been stated that fridges generally don't just fall over, and the incident appears to have occured whilst the fridge was being moved so wouldn't have had it's retaining device in place. (if such a thing was mandated and installed)

I think a better solution is keep young kids elsewhere when moving large objects. When I ripped up my place with a bobcat, the kid, dog and cat were all locked inside the house. (with supervision) Only way to be sure.

I was referring to this comment:

There were calls for restrictions on plasma sales last year when a kid got crushed by a 52 incher

Not the fridge moving accident.

[cam-o]

Whoops, stand corrected.
securing Plasmas is a good idea, those buggers weigh tons

[Mr jesus]

When I ripped up my place with a bobcat, the kid, dog and cat were all locked inside the house.

Not the house you were dozing i hope ;)