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More children hurt at 'horror' playground in Sheerness

At least two other children have been hurt at a "horror" playground which has "scalped" one boy and ripped out the tooth of another, it has been revealed.

Two girls, including keen gymnast Tamzin Everett, broke their arms during separate visits to the Beachfields play area in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey.

Metal slide at the sandpit children's play area at Beachfields on the seafront at Sheerness
Metal slide at the sandpit children's play area at Beachfields on the seafront at Sheerness

Tilly French said: "I took my step-daughter Tamzin and her two sisters to the sandpit on July 25.

"They were playing on the silver tunnel slide, which stands alone, and Tamzin, who is 10, went down it and fell off the bottom, breaking her left arm above the elbow.

"There was no soft matting or sand under the slide, just concrete."

Tilly added: "Tamzin is not a little child. It worries me what would have happened if she had been smaller. The injury could have been a lot worse."

Tamzin, who lives in Iwade, near Sittingbourne, and goes to Iwade Primary School, ended up with her arm plastered up to her shoulder.

Tamzin Everett, 10, in hospital with her left arm after breaking it on a slide in Beachfields sandpit, Sheerness
Tamzin Everett, 10, in hospital with her left arm after breaking it on a slide in Beachfields sandpit, Sheerness
Tamzin Everett, 10, in hospital with her left arm in a plaster cast two weeks after breaking it on a slide in Beachfields sandpit, Sheerness
Tamzin Everett, 10, in hospital with her left arm in a plaster cast two weeks after breaking it on a slide in Beachfields sandpit, Sheerness

Tamzin's mum spoke to KentOnline following the news of 12-year-old Denis-Cristian Bulancea who lost a front tooth when a screw ripped it out of his gum as he went down a slide at the park near McDonald's.

She added: "I contacted the council to tell them but I never received a reply."

The plaster cast came off Tamzin's arm two weeks ago but the schoolgirl is still unable to use it fully and cannot continue with her hobby of gymnastics.

Tilly said: "She has been told not to exercise for another two weeks and has been advised not to run around or play for a further two weeks."

Another girl was also reported to have broken her arm in a Facebook post following Denis-Cristian's horrific injury.

Castle slide and metal slide at the sandpit children's play area at Beachfields on the seafront at Sheerness
Castle slide and metal slide at the sandpit children's play area at Beachfields on the seafront at Sheerness
Castle slide at the sandpit children's play area at Beachfields on the seafront at Sheerness
Castle slide at the sandpit children's play area at Beachfields on the seafront at Sheerness
The sandpit children's play area at Beachfields on the seafront at Sheerness
The sandpit children's play area at Beachfields on the seafront at Sheerness
Denis-Cristian Bulancea, 12, with his tooth back in place after having it ripped out on a children's castle slide at Beachfields, Sheerness
Denis-Cristian Bulancea, 12, with his tooth back in place after having it ripped out on a children's castle slide at Beachfields, Sheerness
Gash on Jordan's head following accident on castle slide at Beachfields, Sheerness
Gash on Jordan's head following accident on castle slide at Beachfields, Sheerness

The £50,000 castle slide was shut a week after it opened in 2019 following an avalanche of injuries.

Shortly after it reopened, following extensive modifications, schoolboy Jordan Spilsbury needed emergency surgery at East Grinstead Hospital when he slipped and gashed his head.

His mum Tasha Spilbury said at the time: "This wasn't just a bump on the slide. He was scalped."

A spokesman for Swale council said: "The play area is inspected weekly by fully qualified staff members and is also visited quarterly by an external inspector and annually for an insurance inspection. In three years, none of these have raised any safety issues.

“We have only had one reported accident here since modifications were made in 2019 and the subsequent investigation found this was down to misuse."

He added: “This is a popular park play area for families and is well-used by the community. We work hard to make sure our play areas are safe but the reality of play is that there is always an element of risk.”

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