Safety probe after boy ‘trapped’ in luggage carousal at city airport
BIRMINGHAM Airport is being investigated by a safety watchdog after a boy was badly hurt when he became trapped in a luggage carousel.
The boy suffered arm and leg injuries when he was caught up in the baggage reclaim conveyor in the arrivals hall on September 4, last year. The boy’s father was forced to climb on to the belt to free him and the child was taken to hospital after an air ambulance was scrambled.
Now the Health and Safety Executive has confirmed it is looking into the incident.
A spokesman said: “HSE is investigating the circumstances surrounding an incident at Birmingham Airport in September 2016.”
An airport spokeswoman said: “Birmingham Airport is fully cooperating with the HSE investigation.”
West Midlands Ambulance Ser- vice confirmed at the time that paramedics were called to reports of a young boy becoming trapped on a luggage conveyor belt.
An ambulance, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford and a Community First Responder were sent to the scene.
An ambulance service spokesman said: “On our arrival, the boy had been freed.
“He was treated for injuries to his arms and legs, given pain relief and transported to Birmingham Children’s Hospital by land ambulance.
“A man was also assessed for a knee injury but did not require transporting to hospital.”
Last September, an airport spokesman said: “Birmingham Airport can confirm a young boy climbed on to the baggage belt in the arrivals hall.
“The boy’s father climbed him to retrieve him.
“An ambulance was called and the child and father were treated at the scene and the young boy has been taken to hospital.
“An investigation is under way by the airport and further information will be forthcoming once the investigation has taken place.”
Birmingham is the seventh busiest airport in the United Kingdom and was used by a total of 10.1 million passengers in 2015. after