Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Holl100 · 04/08/2025 19:07

Ok thankfully it was only me and DD on the escalator! Just glad she didn’t fall too.

OP posts:
Houndsahollering · 04/08/2025 18:56

OP I don’t want to scare you any more than you clearly have already been by going arse over tit on an escalator but get those wounds absolutely scrubbed (dilute chlorhexidine or TCP or dettol or whatever is en vogue these days) and keep a really really close eye on the skin for any signs of infection - and seek medical attention early if you’re concerned about infection or worsening pain etc.

Escalators are vile cesspools of filth and in my professional life I’ve seen some nasty infections from seemingly inconsequential grazes so please be vigilant.

Hankunamatata · 04/08/2025 18:53

The13thFairy · 04/08/2025 18:30

I was on a tube station escalator and I fell 4 or 5 steps to the ground. Grazed hand, badly shaken - I was taken to a room where my hand was washed and bandaged, and various tube staff popped in to see how I was doing. They chatted to each other and to me about elevator safety. The consensus among them is that it was dangerous to do an emergency stop because then loads of people would fall down.

This

Skybluepinky · 04/08/2025 18:50

Of course not, you had a fall and are overthinking it, it was an accident, next time be more careful.

Evaka · 04/08/2025 18:33

Feel better soon OP! I absolutely cabbaged myself outside work recently. Tripped on some construction stuff and fell on my face and shoulder. Was during the heatwave and my wee dress flipped up, revealing my bum to a kind old postman who hauled me up. Falling as an adult is such a shock! Solidarity x

The13thFairy · 04/08/2025 18:30

Yabberwok · 04/08/2025 18:10

Trouble is op, that hindsight is a wonderful thing and yes they should have hit stop but as the probably have never been trained or seen such an incident... hope you're not too badly hurt and it gets better soon.

I was on a tube station escalator and I fell 4 or 5 steps to the ground. Grazed hand, badly shaken - I was taken to a room where my hand was washed and bandaged, and various tube staff popped in to see how I was doing. They chatted to each other and to me about elevator safety. The consensus among them is that it was dangerous to do an emergency stop because then loads of people would fall down.

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.

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?

Holl100 · 04/08/2025 18:13

Thank you. I’m definitely not putting the fault on the shop assistant by the way, understand they might not have known what to do in that situation. He did ask me if I was ok or if I needed any water or anything which was nice.

OP posts:
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.

Yabberwok · 04/08/2025 18:10

Trouble is op, that hindsight is a wonderful thing and yes they should have hit stop but as the probably have never been trained or seen such an incident... hope you're not too badly hurt and it gets better soon.

Poopeepoopee · 04/08/2025 18:08

Another one here who doesn't think the shop worker was at fault either.

Hope you feel better soon

Holl100 · 04/08/2025 18:06

Slimagain · 04/08/2025 18:03

That sounds really horrible and frightening OP.. I hope you are feeling better soon and your little one wasn’t too frightened ? xx

Thanks it upset her too, she was in tears :(

OP posts:
Holl100 · 04/08/2025 18:06

Dozer · 04/08/2025 18:05

Am sorry that happened.

i don’t think the shop worker was at fault.

No it definitely wasnt his fault. I just thought that if it was stopped, it would have helped me regain balance as it was hard to get back up as it still moving!

OP posts:
Dozer · 04/08/2025 18:05

Am sorry that happened.

i don’t think the shop worker was at fault.

Slimagain · 04/08/2025 18:03

That sounds really horrible and frightening OP.. I hope you are feeling better soon and your little one wasn’t too frightened ? xx

Swipe left for the next trending thread