Girl, 6, killed by playground swing as she was hit over the back of the head after falling off in freak accident
A YOUNG girl has died in a freak accident when a playground swing hit her on the head.
Ritaj Lahma, 6, had been playing at a park with her mum Fatima when she slipped off the swing.
According to local media, the swing’s hard plastic seat snapped back and hit Ritaj hard in the head.
The tragic incident occurred in Villongo, Bergamo Province, in Italy.
Ambulance were on the scene within minutes of the freak accident after park-goers raised the alarm. .
Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the little girl for several minutes.
The six-year-old was airlifted to Bergamo’s Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital.
Despite the doctors’ efforts, Ritaj died shortly after her arrival at the hospital.
According to Italian media, an autopsy was performed by Dr. Taiana.
Local prosecutors have seized the swing for forensic examination to discover if poor maintenance or design flaw could make the park’s operators criminally liable for her death.
A cousin told local media: “She was the light of the family.”
Last year a schoolgirl had her foot amputated in a horror freak accident.
Her mother Jodie Sawyers was shopping in July last year when she received a phone call to say her seven-year-old daughter Ashtynn had slipped under her dad’s ride-on lawn mower.
Ashtynn had been playing outside in a paddling pool with her three siblings when she decided to run over to her dad Wes Sawyers, who was cutting the front yard with a ride-on lawn mower.
Wet from playing in the water, Ashtynn slipped while sprinting towards her dad and fell right under the lawn mower blade.
Despite multiple surgeries to try and save Ashtynn’s right foot, doctors chose to amputate due to the extensive nature of her injuries.
Mum-of-four Jodie described the incident as every parents’ worst nightmare and is raising awareness of the dangers of lawn mowers around children.
Jodie, who lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US, said: “I was at the mall getting my nails done and my husband decided to mow the lawn. The children were out playing in the front yard in our kids’ pool.
“Wes was mowing the side of the lawn when Ashtynn decided to run over to her dad. She slipped and fell right under the lawn mower blade. She was only under there for a second.”
Ashtynn remained in hospital for six-weeks while doctors attempted to save her foot.
However, medics ultimately decided to amputate from the ankle down after multiple failed surgeries.
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