Boy, 4, left with gaping head wound after tripping on anti-skateboard measures installed by council
A four-year-old boy was rushed to A&E with a gaping head wound after falling over a council-installed measure to deter people from skateboarding.
Finley Richards tripped on a piece of metal sticking out of a curb and banged his head on an anti-skateboard device in Manchester.
The fittings – also known as “blades” – have been described as “evil” by the boy’s father Paul Richards.
The parent said the measures should be removed to prevent further incidents.
“It was very traumatic, there was lots of blood,” he told the BBC.
He added that his son was likely to have a “scar for the rest of his life” following the incident.
Richards said there are other ways to deter people from skateboarding that are far less dangerous.
Manchester City Council said it is reviewing the incident which happened in the City’s Cathedral Gardens.
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The “blades” are placed on features such as benches and handrails.
According to council chiefs, the devices are supposed stop skateboarders from grinding on the surfaces where they have been installed.
Similar to anti-homeless spikes or studs, they are regarded as a type of hostile architecture.
A Manchester City Council spokesman said: “We never like to hear about any person getting hurt, whatever the circumstances.
“The Council has been made aware of an accident that occurred in Cathedral Gardens at an event earlier in September.
“And the relevant departments are currently reviewing the incident.”
The incident has also been reported to the Cathedral Gardens to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) by the boy’s father.