Six-year-old boy fractures nose after fall at Jewel Changi Airport’s Walking Net

SINGAPORE: An outing to Jewel Changi Airport during the year-end school holidays ended in injury after a six-year-old boy fell at the Walking Net attraction in Canopy Park, fracturing his nose on 10 December 2025.

The child was visiting the attraction with his mother and nine-year-old brother when he tripped and struck a wooden platform.

He was later diagnosed with an open nasal bone fracture and required surgery.

According to media reports, the incident occurred after the boy lost his balance while on the net.

Jewel Changi Airport and regulators said visitors are briefed on safety rules, including a prohibition on running.

Mother recounts sudden and traumatic fall

The boy’s mother, who wanted to be known only as Anna, said the fall happened suddenly. Speaking in Mandarin, she recalled seeing her son falling but being unable to reach him in time.

“I saw him as he was falling, but I couldn’t rush over in time. It was too late,” she said, adding that she did not see whether he had been running.

She described the aftermath as traumatic, saying her son’s face was covered in blood and that he was crying intensely.

Anna said staff members at the Walking Net provided first aid immediately after the fall. After seeing the severity of the wound, she felt her son needed hospital treatment.

The father, who wanted to be known only as Richard, said his son underwent surgery the following day, requiring more than 30 stitches to close three layers of tissue, leaving what his father said would be a permanent scar.

Operator’s response and safety procedures

In response to queries, a Jewel Changi Airport Development spokesperson said staff members had administered first aid immediately after the incident.

The spokesperson added that further medical assistance available within the airport was “not opted for by the child’s parent”.

“We remain concerned for the injured child and have been in touch with his family on this incident,” the spokesperson said.

The operator did not provide details on whether there had been previous safety incidents at the Walking Net attraction.

Canopy Park, which opened in June 2019, is located on the fifth floor of Jewel Changi Airport. In addition to the Walking Net, it houses attractions such as the Canopy Bridge, Mirror Maze and Bouncing Net.

Regulatory findings and compliance

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA), responding to CNA’s queries, said it had conducted an investigation into the incident.

BCA confirmed that the Walking Net attraction complies with regulatory requirements under the Amusement Rides Safety Act.

“The child, who was running on the net, lost balance and struck the wooden plank walkway,” the regulator said.

BCA added that operators are required to operate attractions according to procedures specified by designers or manufacturers. It encouraged visitors to adhere to safety instructions and supervise children closely.

Jewel Changi Airport said the Walking Net’s safety guidelines clearly state that running and rowdy play are prohibited.

“Visitors are required to undergo a safety briefing prior to entering the Walking Net, which includes instructions on appropriate behaviour, including no running,” the spokesperson said.

An advisory sign is also displayed at the entrance of the attraction to remind visitors of the same rules.

Under the attraction’s ticketing requirements, all children must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Staff members, referred to as “rangers”, are stationed on-site to provide safety reminders.

“In this instance, rangers had issued several reminders to the child’s group not to run while on the Walking Net, before the unfortunate incident occurred,” the spokesperson said.

Child returns to school after recovery

The boy’s father raised concerns about the design of the attraction, saying the hard edges of the wooden flooring should have been covered to reduce the risk of serious injury.

He said that when he revisited the site the next day, the planks appeared uncovered.

Despite the incident, the boy has since recovered sufficiently to return to school.

His mother said he began Primary One on 2 January 2026.