Narrow escape for nine-year-old girl almost hung in playground

Children at play in an Icelandic playground.

Children at play in an Icelandic playground. mbl.is/Kristján Kristjánsson

According to an announcement from the centre for children's accident prevention in Iceland, a nine-year-old girl had a close call recently when her bicycle helmet got caught in netting at a playground. 

"The girl is 9-years-old and was out cycling with her friend. They went to a nearby playground and she started climbing in some playground equpment still wearing her bicycle helmet. She slipped into netting at the base of the equipment and her helmet got stuck. She was left hanging there with no way of getting out. Thankfully an adult passed by and was able to get the helmet off. The girl was fine after the incident but sufffered bruises to her neck. The piece of playground equipment has since been removed," it says a statement released by the centre today. They ask parents to be vigilant that children who are unable to remove their own bicycle helmets should always be accompanied by adults before cycling to a playground. The advice for parents with older children is that they always remove their helmet before climbing trees or playing in a playground. 

The statement also warns that there are still several playgrounds in Iceland which don't confirm to safety regulations. They especially point out a playground at the old harbour of Reykjavik where, it states, all safety rules are broken. 

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