21-05-2025
Mum pushes for ‘mandatory safety checks' at play parks after son fractures spine
A CONCERNED mum is calling for mandatory safety checks on children's play parks after her eight-year-old son fractured his spine in a fall from a climbing frame.
Axel Potts, of Whitehaven, was playing on the equipment at St Bees play park on May 8 when he fell onto matting which his mum, Kerry Potts said was 'severely worn', with 'metal links' exposed.
Axel, who has non-verbal autism, was taken to hospital and it was discovered he had suffered a small spinal fracture. He is now awaiting an appointment with the orthopaedics team.
Axel Potts, of Whitehaven, who has non-verbal autism, next to the climbing frame at St Bees play park (Image: Submitted)
Kerry has set up a petition pushing for mandatory health and safety checks for all children's play parks every three months, amid fears that the state of equipment is putting children at risk of serious injuries.
St Bees Parish Council, which is responsible for the play park at St Bees, said weekly safety checks are already carried out by volunteers and councillors and a 'more technical' monthly check is carried out by Cumberland Council.
Repair work has since been undertaken on the matting by Cumberland Council.
Recalling what happened when Axel fell, Kerry said: 'He was climbing down from the top of the wooden pirate frame and fell backwards from a bit of a height. The flooring of the park and the safety padding isn't well maintained.
'We took him straight to the hospital. He's got a small compression fracture. Because of his autism, Axel doesn't really show pain. The doctor was surprised he was still walking and running round.
'It's made him more wary. He's a very energetic little boy. Because of his autism, the sea is his calming place. He loves the sea.'
New matting has been installed by Cumberland Council on part of the area around the climbing frame at St Bees play park (Image: Submitted)
She said Cumberland Council had repaired the area of matting which had metal links sticking out but the part where Axel fell was still hard worn and would not cushion a fall.
Doug Sim, chairman of St Bees Parish Council, said: 'We do have quite a strict regime of safety checks. Every week, all the equipment is given a visual check by a rota of councillors and volunteers. They do it against a detailed check sheet.
'On top of that, every month we have a more technical check by Cumberland Council, at a higher level. Then we have an annual report by an independent assessor. We get a detailed report of the whole play area.
'We got to know about this via a post on Facebook. The next day we did an assessment of the site and later in the day we applied some rubber padding around what we thought was the cause of the problem.
'There were some metal links which were part of a piece of play equipment that had already been there. We put some rubber round them as a temporary solution. Later in the week, Cumberland Council installed a new piece of mat.
'This is the first time we have seen this type of accident.'
A Cumberland Council spokesperson said: 'At the request of St Bees Parish Council, who manage the play area, we undertook some repair work on the matting. This work has been completed.'
To sign Kerry's petition for enhanced safety protocols to be put in place at all play parks, go to:
