Girl, 3, critical after fall from escalator in Primark
Friday, 04 Apr 2008 19:35
Primark is one of the largest department store chains in the UK
A three-year-old girl is in a critical condition after she fell through a gap between two escalators in the Primark department store in Liverpool.
The infant plummeted more than 30 metres from the second floor of the shop, which is near the centre of the city on Church Street.
Primark was immediately closed as Merseyside police and local health and safety officials responded to the emergency call at around 13:30 BST this afternoon.
The girl was rushed to Royal Liverpool hospital and is currently being assessed and treated for her injuries. Reports suggest she is struggling to breathe.
A spokesperson for the local police force explained: "Officers were called to the Primark clothing store in Liverpool city centre following reports that a three-year-old girl had fallen over the side of an escalator and through the gap between the two escalators.
"It appears she may have fallen approximately 100 feet from the escalator going down from the second to the ground floor."
Following the incident, a Primark spokesman said the company is "profoundly shocked and saddened", adding: "We are doing all we can to assist the authorities in their investigation and all our thoughts are with the little girl and her family."
The Liverpool store only opened in September last year and, at 84,00 sq ft, is one of the chain's largest in the UK.