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Learner injured by sliding gate

2022-05-06  Aletta Shikololo

Learner injured by sliding gate

A learner of the Ongwediva Control Primary School is recovering from a serious head injury after he was hit by the school’s sliding gate last Friday.

School principal Gideon Shipena told New Era that seven-year-old Tandeus Shigwedha was playing with other children after the school was out when the gate veered off from the rail and fell on him. 

“The children were waiting for their parents to pick them up when the accident happened. We later took him to hospital, and he is recovering well,” said Shipena.

It is suspected that he climbed on the gate, causing it to derail and ultimately fall. The incident subsequently left him with an open wound on the head.

Shipena noted that sometimes parents take long to pick their children from school, which could lead to such accidents as children are left unsupervised.

“Imagine, it was around 14h00, and the child was not yet picked up,” he stressed.

As much slide gates are convenient and trendy, poor workmanship and maintenance can translate into enormous costs, including injuries, loss of lives and properties when they fail.

In a similar accident not long ago, another child lost his life when he was smashed by a gate at his parents’ home in Oshikuku, Omusati region.

The child was allegedly opening the gate for his mother, who had returned from work.

Shipena warned parents/guardians to be vigilant when children are operating these gates as they can sometimes cause accidents.

- ashikolololo@nepc.com.na


2022-05-06  Aletta Shikololo

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