'I felt his pain': Shopper's shock after boy's foot gets stuck in Jurong Point escalator

Dozens of shoppers at Jurong Point watched in shock after a boy's foot was stuck in an escalator on Sunday (July 14) evening. 

An eyewitness surnamed Loke told AsiaOne that she entered the mall at around 8pm and noticed throngs of shoppers on the second and third floor lined up against the railings and looking down.

The 27-year-old, who works in the finance industry, also heard screams and crying from a boy near the first-floor escalator. 

"I couldn't really see what was going on since the escalator was cordoned off, but there were so many SCDF (Singapore Civil Defence Force) officers there," she said, adding that she could feel the tension. 

Loke also noticed a few other children, whom she believed were the boy's siblings, sobbing near the escalator.

"The mother's face was red and she looked so scared," the shopper said. "Everyone was just hoping that [the boy] was okay."

At around 8.30pm, relieved shoppers burst into applause after SCDF personnel freed the boy, whom Loke said looked around eight or nine.

"He wasn't crying on the stretcher, but his left foot was bandaged," Loke said. "I really felt his pain."

Photos circulating on a Reddit Singapore thread show a blue rubber slipper caught in a gap at the side of the downward-moving escalator, which appears to be closed for maintenance after the accident. 

Responding to AsiaOne's queries, SCDF said they received a call for assistance at 1 Jurong West Central 2 at around 7.45pm. They freed the boy using rescue equipment and took him to the National University Hospital.

According to a spokesman from Link Asset Management, which manages Jurong Point, the boy suffered a foot injury after his rubber shoe got caught between the escalator steps.

Besides rendering support to the boy's family, the spokesman told the Straits Times: "We are working closely with the Building and Construction Authority and Otis Elevator Company to conduct investigations on the incident."

He also urged visitors to be mindful of their own safety when riding the escalator, especially when they are with children.

ALSO READ: 'He cried out suddenly': Boy, 6, undergoes surgery after toe gets stuck in MRT station escalator

chingshijie@asiaone.com