Toddler injured after stroller incident on escalator at Kuala Lumpur mall

MALAYSIA: The incident came to public attention after a video was uploaded to Instagram on Saturday (20 December), where it quickly gained widespread traction, amassing around one million views.

The footage shows a woman cradling a young boy at the foot of a stationary escalator inside a shopping mall.

In the video, the toddler appears to be bleeding from the forehead, as several members of the public gather around them in visible concern.

The escalator involved appears to have been stopped, though it was not immediately clear whether it had been halted following the fall.

Shortly after, a man in uniform is seen descending the same stationary escalator while carrying an empty stroller, suggesting it may have been involved in the fall. The video did not show the moment of the accident itself, leaving viewers to piece together what had happened based on the aftermath.

The original poster (OP), who shared the footage, said she was nearby when she heard a shout, prompting her to rush over to the scene.

She speculated that the woman — whom she believed to be the child’s mother — may have either lost control of the stroller or slipped after getting off the escalator.

Online Appeal Highlights Safety Concerns

In her caption, the OP urged members of the public who are using strollers to avoid escalators altogether.

She emphasised that while waiting for a lift may take longer, it is a much safer option for those pushing strollers or using wheelchairs.

The OP did not specify the exact location or timing of the incident shown in the video.

However, the clip sparked extensive discussion in the comments section, with many users sharing similar experiences or close calls involving strollers and escalators.

One netizen claimed she had witnessed a stroller rolling down an escalator in Kuala Lumpur on the same day. She added that she could not recall whether the incident occurred at Mid Valley Megamall or The Gardens Mall, two popular shopping destinations in the city.

Police Confirm Separate Escalator Accident Involving Toddler

On the same day the video circulated online, local reports cited Harian Metro as reporting a separate escalator-related incident involving a toddler at a shopping mall in Brickfields.

According to Brickfields Deputy Police Chief Superintendent Ahmad Firdaus Mustaffa Kamal, a two-year-old boy was injured at about 5.11pm after the stroller he was seated in overturned on an escalator. The child’s guardian, a 40-year-old Indonesian woman, was believed to have been taking the escalator from the first floor to the ground floor when she slipped and fell.

Following the incident, the child was brought to a nearby private clinic for medical attention. An examination confirmed that he had sustained only a minor wound on his forehead. After receiving outpatient treatment, the toddler was taken home by his parents.

Guardian Hospitalised, No Police Report Filed

While the child’s injuries were described as minor, the woman involved in the Brickfields incident was reported to have suffered injuries to her neck and leg.

She is currently receiving treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Deputy Superintendent Ahmad Firdaus stated that, as of the time of reporting, no police report had been lodged by the family involved.

It remains unclear whether the incident shown in the viral video and the Brickfields case refer to the same event.