A nine-year-old girl was left "hysterically crying" from a painful burn on her legs after going down a 'death slide' in shorts at an indoor play centre.
Delilah Price, nine, went down the steep red slide which features a vertical 'death drop' at Playzone in Swansea, during a family day out. But she was left with a burn across her upper thigh which needed medical treatment, and mum Sarah, 38, said she couldn't sit down for days and is now scared of slides.
Playzone's website states visitors should "keep arms, legs and torso covered – no shorts or short skirts". But Sarah said Delilah, sister Dolcie, eight, and their two cousins all wore shorts and t-shirts to the play centre and staff didn't say anything during the visit last Wednesday (August 17).
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Playzone staff have since said they can only advise people on how to dress children and not "dictate" to them.
Sarah, from Cimla, South Wales, said: "I'd never heard of a burn off a slide or seen one and we have been using play centres for nine years. The children all had shorts and t-shirts on. Nothing was said on entry about their clothing and they were able to go in and play on whatever.
"As soon as Delilah came down the slide, she was hysterically crying, and staff gave her an ice pack. By the time she got home, it was really sore, and the next day, it was all weepy. For days afterwards, she could hardly walk and couldn't sit.
"Everything was sticking to it. She was in so much pain. Doctors at the hospital have cleaned it and dressed it multiple times and thought she might need antibiotics but they're happy now that it is starting to heal.
"I really think there should be stricter rules like there are at other places requiring correct socks or footwear. I rang Playzone to warn them but they weren't interested.
"They said I'd have a phone call back but I've not heard anything. I said I'd email the photos of the burn but they said they don't want to see them.
"We won't go back. Delilah is too scared to use a slide now but I'm hoping she will overcome it. It's been a hard week with her not being able to do much. The first few days she couldn't even sit, and she wanted to sleep with me, which isn't like her.
"I'm upset and angry, and I think things should be in place to stop it happening again."
However, Playzone staff have assured the ECHO there is signage in place to help keep children safe. A spokesperson said: "Whilst it is unfortunate that this child suffered a friction burn, it should be noted that we can only advise re clothing etc that children and adults wear when visiting our sites.
"We simply cannot dictate to parents how they choose to dress their children. However from the moment our customers arrive on site there are numerous warning signs including at reception. This signage continues through out the building and in particular by all of the slides."
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