Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Embarrassing accident.

91 replies

Holl100 · 04/08/2025 17:59

I was on the escalator coming down. Had my 6 yr old DD, me with shopping bags and a basket. Missed stepping when getting on as I got my leg twisted and struggled with the basket. I fell forward down Went down quite a few steps. I twisted my ankle and have cut/grazed bottom of my leg which is now sore. The shop assistant saw and sort of ran after me but should the emergency stop have been applied? I could have fell to the bottom and couldn’t re gain my balance but luckily was able to pull myself up and luckily my 6 year old didn’t fall but I did continue down for a little while. It could have been worse. Shook me up and I’m really embarrassed

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Sadworld23 · 06/08/2025 08:11

I'm not a HSE specialist but as I know my work reports accidents to non-employees, ie visitors and clients I did a bit of research.

This site was the easiest reading
https://hts-training.co.uk/riddor-reporting/

As you were not taken to hospital, I dont believe it's Riddor reportable but I can't figure out if it should've been in their accident book.

Either way, I would write to their head office, saying XXX happened. Maybe there was no reason, it was just a slip,trip, fall or maybe their escalator needs attention, not for us to say.
Do nothing and nothing will change imo.

Bot Verification

https://hts-training.co.uk/riddor-reporting

HevenlyMeS · 05/08/2025 22:11

God Bless You & Your Dear Daughter
I hope you're both ok now following this shake up
How upsetting
So much more simpler said than done, but you're not at fault so please remember it could happen to anyone & try not to feel embarrassed
Take great divinest care
Much Love To You&Yours From Me&Mine
💚✨🫂✨💚

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 05/08/2025 19:48

This nearly happened to my best friend at a tube station. I'm so relieved he regained his footing.

I hope you recover soon.

Allthegoodonesareg0ne · 05/08/2025 15:55

Tulipvase · 04/08/2025 18:14

Hope you are ok, I’m always wary on escalators.

I wonder if they only stop the escalators in actual emergencies as I can imagine if it suddenly stopped, more people could lose their balance?

That was my thought too. Could be worse for everyone including you if it suddenly stopped.

Sounds really frightening op, glad it wasn't worse x

ThisTaupeMember · 05/08/2025 15:47

And this is why I'm scared of escalators

zingally · 05/08/2025 15:31

Falling over as an adult is the absolute worst, and can really shake you up.

I fell over in Birmingham a couple of years back, walking back to the railway station. Completely didn't see a curb, fell off it and splatted into the gutter. A random lady stopped and helped me up. Grazed my hand and knee. Not badly hurt, but rattled and shaky for the entire train ride home.

Driftingawaynow · 05/08/2025 15:31

LindorDoubleChoc · 04/08/2025 18:21

The escalator only stops if someone actually uses the emergency stop button though. Perhaps not everyone knows it exists? When I pressed the emergency stop button for a woman who fell on an escalator at Gatwick airport there were two people (both men!) infront of me who failed to do so.

Both men!
why do women do this? Do depressing

Allseeingallknowing · 05/08/2025 15:13

You were so lucky neither of you were injured. Instead of being embarrassed, I’d be telling myself off for not using the lift and risking the safety of you both!

Allseeingallknowing · 05/08/2025 15:09

Last year an elderly man fell down the escalator in the shopping centre, and unfortunately died. Accidents on escalators are common, often caused by impatient people trying to rush past, and people overloaded with shopping at the same time as struggling with walking sticks etc.

Allseeingallknowing · 05/08/2025 15:06

Holl100 · 05/08/2025 14:55

I’m definitely not blaming anyone or claiming!!

Show quote history

Why didn’t you use the lift?
Recently I saw a parent struggling on the escalator with a double buggy- so dangerous- and unnecessary!

Robyn96 · 05/08/2025 15:03

MrsHamlet · 05/08/2025 14:58

Makes no difference - the accident book applies to members of the public too.

Show quote history

In the UK we wouldn't be made to fill out a form because we fell down the stairs due to our own fault x

purplecorkheart · 05/08/2025 14:59

I have been on a escalator where the emergency stop was applied and a load of people were tossed. I hate escalators and avoid them at all cost now. Sounds like the employee did nothing wrong and that you had too much. You need a free hand and good line of vision to use the escalator safely. It sounds like you really needed to use the lift.

MrsHamlet · 05/08/2025 14:58

Robyn96 · 05/08/2025 14:25

They won't do an accident form because you're not an employee....

Show quote history

Makes no difference - the accident book applies to members of the public too.

Robyn96 · 05/08/2025 14:57

Holl100 · 05/08/2025 14:51

Ok, a couple of people up the thread asked whether they had

Show quote history

Ah they're probably American!x

Robyn96 · 05/08/2025 14:57

noidea69 · 05/08/2025 14:54

Where there's blame, there's a claim.

And there is no blame...

Original poster
Holl100 · 05/08/2025 14:55

noidea69 · 05/08/2025 14:54

Where there's blame, there's a claim.

I’m definitely not blaming anyone or claiming!!

OP posts:
noidea69 · 05/08/2025 14:54

Where there's blame, there's a claim.

Original poster
Holl100 · 05/08/2025 14:51

Robyn96 · 05/08/2025 14:25

They won't do an accident form because you're not an employee....

Show quote history

Ok, a couple of people up the thread asked whether they had

OP posts:
Bennetty · 05/08/2025 14:40

I imagine the shop worker was stunned and flustered, they might be kicking themselves right now for not stopping it

Robyn96 · 05/08/2025 14:25

Holl100 · 05/08/2025 11:25

Thanks. It was only the shop assistant and one other shopper who saw. My entire basket fell to the bottom with a crash, luckily only had two things and nothing glass/ceramic! I don’t think I twisted my ankle actually. I think as I fell forward, my body like swung and I went down a few steps but managed to hold onto the hand rail with both hands and sort of pull myself up. In that the bottom of my leg was against the moving bit which caused the grazing and I must have bashed my inner ankle on it as well as I went. It hurts when I move my foot around and a little swollen this morning but think it will be ok. I’m just lucky my body went that way and not literally head first!

They didnt take my details or do an accident form

Edited

They won't do an accident form because you're not an employee....

Robyn96 · 05/08/2025 14:24

DaisyChain505 · 04/08/2025 18:11

Don’t be embarrassed. Imagine if you saw that happening to someone else. You wouldn’t find it funny or think “oh my they must be embarrassed!” You would be worried for their safety and hope they were ok. That’s what others were thinking about you.

It sounds scary and you were lucky but it can’t be changed so try not to go over it again and again.

NGL, soon as they stood up and I knew they weren't dead, I'd be howling 🤣

Original poster
Holl100 · 05/08/2025 14:03

sellotapechicken · 05/08/2025 12:58

What did you want the shop worker to do? Catch you?

No definitely not! I asked if the emergency stop should have been applied, as I wasn’t struggling to get back up whilst it was moving and my lower leg was against the thing which hurt.. didn’t realise that it didn’t slow gradually which others have pointed out now so now I know

OP posts:
sellotapechicken · 05/08/2025 12:58

What did you want the shop worker to do? Catch you?

Original poster
Holl100 · 05/08/2025 11:29

I don’t know. I’m just embarrassed, I must have looked silly trying to pull myself back up with my hands on the rail and my legs apart as it’s moving! Oh well. Just so thankful my little one didn’t fall. She said to me ‘’I wasn’t scared for me but I was scared for you’’ bless her.

OP posts:
Original poster
Holl100 · 05/08/2025 11:25

Thanks. It was only the shop assistant and one other shopper who saw. My entire basket fell to the bottom with a crash, luckily only had two things and nothing glass/ceramic! I don’t think I twisted my ankle actually. I think as I fell forward, my body like swung and I went down a few steps but managed to hold onto the hand rail with both hands and sort of pull myself up. In that the bottom of my leg was against the moving bit which caused the grazing and I must have bashed my inner ankle on it as well as I went. It hurts when I move my foot around and a little swollen this morning but think it will be ok. I’m just lucky my body went that way and not literally head first!

They didnt take my details or do an accident form

OP posts: