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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:
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

Dozer · 04/08/2025 18:05

Am sorry that happened.

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

Original poster
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:
Original poster
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:
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

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.

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.

Original poster
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:
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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Show quote history

This

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.

Original poster
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:
Original poster
Holl100 · 04/08/2025 19:08

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.

Thank you, I was thinking this actually. Can only imagine what germs are on them

OP posts:
Yabberwok · 04/08/2025 21:16

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.

Show quote history

I did also think that, which is also the consequence of the emergency break on the train

Original poster
Holl100 · 05/08/2025 00:04

Thanks everyone. In a bit of pain with it now, it’s my inner ankle.? Very very tender to touch and hurts to walk now. I think I must have bashed it against the escalator as I fell

OP posts:
Eenameenadeeka · 05/08/2025 03:37

the only time I've seen one stopped was when a childs shoelace was caught. Horrible to think of what could happen there caught in the moving parts. Have you been checked by a doctor in case you have any injuries? Don't be embarrassed though, we all trip sometimes!

JustMyView13 · 05/08/2025 04:54

The thing is, whilst you’re dying inside embarrassed, anyone who saw is mainly just concerned and then relieved when you’re ‘ok’ (noting - it could’ve been worse).
As my parents always used to say - today’s news, tomorrow’s chip paper. I’d not worry too much.

JustMyView13 · 05/08/2025 04:55

Eenameenadeeka · 05/08/2025 03:37

the only time I've seen one stopped was when a childs shoelace was caught. Horrible to think of what could happen there caught in the moving parts. Have you been checked by a doctor in case you have any injuries? Don't be embarrassed though, we all trip sometimes!

Did you see what happened in Bangkok airport? They’re actually pretty dangerous. I think of this lady every time I’m on those flat ones.

www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66062753

Vates · 05/08/2025 06:07

Hope you feel better soon. I would be thinking 'ouch!' and wondering if you were ok if I saw that, definitely wouldn't call it embarrassing. I am glad a staff member checked on you.

I can't use escalators anymore due to balance issues. I feel so dizzy on them and would worry about not only hurting myself but knocking another person down too. I just always opt for the stairs where possible.

ClarasSisters · 05/08/2025 06:17

Your daughter almost certainly would have fallen as well had the emergency stop been applied. If it hurts to walk then you should get checked out at urgent care.

I only use escalators if I have a hand free to hold the rail. I've never particularly liked them but trust them less as I get older. Also find it embarrassing to fall asleep I'm getting older - definitely think it's a sign you're aging when people swarm to pick you up! Try not to dwell on it though.

Hope you're feeling better soon Flowers

Cinaferna · 05/08/2025 06:21

The emergency stop is more for people getting clothing trapped or if there's a smell of fire etc. It stops with a really sudden jerking motion that throws everyone forward so your DD and others might have fallen too.