Shelf-shocked

LUCKY escape . . . Nichola Gartside with Luca (left) and Tyla

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Store stools come crashing down on youngsters

TOTS Tyla and Luca Gartside had a lucky escape when they were hit by heavy bar stools that toppled off an insecure shelf.

The children were with mum Nichola Gartside, of Fontwell Lane, Derker, at B&M Home Store in Huddersfield Road, Oldham. along with sister Anna (12) when the incident happened.

A shelf holding two bar stools with heavy chrome bases collapsed and they fell on to Tyla (3) and Luca. The impact knocked Tyla to the floor and crushed four-month-old Luca’s pram.

Nichola (29) said: “I heard a big crash and then the children started screaming. When I turned around I saw Tyla on the floor and a big stool covering Luca in his pram. It was terrifying.

“I ran over to get Luca out of his pram and he was screaming. Another customer started crying because she thought Luca had been badly hurt.

“The store manager and first-aider came over and I asked them to call an ambulance.

“Tyla had a lump on her head and a grazed knee and Luca had a lump and scratches on his head. Both of them were in shock.

“She keeps asking me if Luca is OK, and I can’t sleep as I keep going over and over the incident in my head, imagining what could have happened.

“When I saw the stool covering Luca in his pram I really thought he had been seriously injured.

“I was told that the stools should not have been stacked above waist height, but they were on a shelf at shoulder height.”

A spokesman at B&M Home Store said: “The incident was logged and has been reported to our head office.”