Fears boy, 4, scarred for life after falling on 'blade' to deter skateboarders
Manchester Evening News|October 01, 2024
A LITTLE boy may have been left scarred for life after striking his head on an anti-skateboarding 'blade' in Manchester city centre.
NEAL KEELING
Fears boy, 4, scarred for life after falling on 'blade' to deter skateboarders

Finley Richards, aged four, suffered a deep gash to his forehead in the accident in Cathedral Gardens.

Now his father, Paul, is calling for the council to remove the metal protrusions which are embedded in paving around the greens between Manchester Cathedral and the National Museum of Football.

Paul, from Didsbury, and his family had attended a folk festival at the location.

He said: "Finley was running around with other kids on the grass just outside the kids activity tent. He has fallen over and landed on this blade. It was very traumatic, lots of blood, he was rushed to hospital by ambulance.

"Your natural reaction is to put your hands out to break your fall. In this instance as my daughter has described it, if this stopper had not been there he probably wouldn't have even hit his head. But because it protrudes so much his head hit it.

"Skateboarders like to do this thing called grinding - so they flip the board up and then grind across the paving and drop off. So it is meant to protect the council's steps.

I have researched other suppliers of these protrusions and one does a version which is only meant to protrude 5mm and has a rounded edge. Whereas these are 3cm and are more like a skateboard blade sticking out of the ground.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MANCHESTER EVENING NEWSView all
THEY'RE OFF
Manchester Evening News

THEY'RE OFF

Constitution Hill out for glory on opening day of Festival

time-read
2 mins  |
March 11, 2025
JIMMY MAC IS WONDERING WHEN HE'S COMING BACK...
Manchester Evening News

JIMMY MAC IS WONDERING WHEN HE'S COMING BACK...

FOR the first time this season, at the 44th time of asking, James McAtee did not make the City squad.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 11, 2025
A few months ago I was competing at national level and now I can't run at all
Manchester Evening News

A few months ago I was competing at national level and now I can't run at all

BUT FREDDIE NOW HAS CHARITY HALF MARATHON IN SIGHTS AFTER BRAIN TUMOUR DIAGNOSIS

time-read
2 mins  |
March 11, 2025
Manchester Evening News

PLANS FOR NEW OLD TRAFFORD UNVEILED

UNITED intend to unveil plans for a new Old Trafford stadium.

time-read
1 min  |
March 11, 2025
ALL'S WELL THAT VENDS WELL
Manchester Evening News

ALL'S WELL THAT VENDS WELL

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR MAKING THOUSANDS A MONTH WITH SNACKS AND DRINKS MACHINES

time-read
3 mins  |
March 11, 2025
Manchester Evening News

FA CUT DOWN FOREST APPEAL OVER £750K FINE

NOTTINGHAM Forest have been unsuccessful with their appeal against a £750,000 fine imposed for a social media post which criticised Premier League official Stuart Attwell.

time-read
1 min  |
March 11, 2025
Manchester Evening News

Lifting on bin TRAFF the lid charges

M.E.N. DELVES INTO EXTRA PAYMENTS PER BOROUGH

time-read
5 mins  |
March 11, 2025
Manchester Evening News

Matchday medic spared prison for Etihad theft spree

A TRUSTED matchday medic at Manchester City who carried out a four-year 'thieving spree' from the Etihad - selling items he swiped on eBay- has escaped an immediate jail sentence.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 11, 2025
Fire as ships collide in the North Sea
Manchester Evening News

Fire as ships collide in the North Sea

THE crew of an oil tanker are “safe and accounted for”, after jet fuel was released during a crash with a cargo ship in the North Sea yesterday, a maritime company has said.

time-read
1 min  |
March 11, 2025
Shaun of the (very well) fed
Manchester Evening News

Shaun of the (very well) fed

ONE OF CITY'S BEST CHEFS SERVES UP 'NORTHERN HOSPITALITY'

time-read
3 mins  |
March 11, 2025