WARNING: This article contains graphic imagery.

A six-year-old girl was shopping with her family at a Kmart store when an ill-fated accident turned her shopping trip into a nightmare.

Cecilia Chen was six when she went shopping with her grandmother at Chatswood Chase shopping centre on Sydney's Lower North Shore on January 8, 2020.

The youngster spotted a pink t-shirt she wanted but as she jumped up to reach it, she lost her balance and smashed her right eye into a metal clothes hook on the rack below.

She was then rushed to Westmead Children's Hospital with blood gushing out of her face where she underwent a four-hour operation to restore her eyelid.

Cecilia was injured by a type of hook found in the apparel section of a Kmart store. Credit: 9News.

On Friday, the NSW District Court ordered Kmart to pay Cecilia's family $59,929 to cover medical bills and court costs, after the company had earlier conceded in court that it had breached its duty of care in relation to the accident.

According to testimony given in court, Cecilia suffered from emotional stress as well as physical scarring from the injury, which caused her face to bleed and yellow fluid to leak from one of her eyes.

A reconstructive surgeon sent in medical reports that explained how severe the child's injury was. The reports said that she had a full-thickness transverse tear of the right upper eyelid, which was torn off except for a thin lateral attachment, and that the upper eyelid tear duct was split.

Cecilia's mother, Jill Huang, told the court that Cecilia refused to go to school after the incident and missed a few days because she was hurt and scared. Ms Huang went so far as to ask the school to tell the other children about her daughter's accident and how it had altered her appearance.

When the young girl reached up to get a shirt off a hook, she lost her balance and hit her eye on a metal rail. Credit: 9News.

Even though it's been two years since the accident, Cecilia still cries before she goes to sleep. Even though her parents had planned for her to start sleeping alone when she turned six, the eight-year-old still sleeps with them.

The once-active child used to enjoy ballet, basketball, gymnastics, and swimming, but now she'll just play table tennis since she doesn't want to 'risk contact' and get hurt.

The court was told that Cecilia's refusal to discuss the accident and her growing anxiety were 'serious' and a psychiatrist has also noted that the child should begin therapy as soon as possible.

After the incident, Kmart put rubber caps on the top of all hang rail arms in all of their stores. These are checked regularly to try to make sure that something similar doesn't happen again.

'Kmart accepts the court's judgement in this case and extends our best wishes to Cecilia and her family,' said the retail giant in a statement.

Key Takeaways

• Cecilia Chen was shopping with her family in the children's section of Kmart when her right eye hit a metal rail clothing hook holding children's apparel.
• The six-year-old was then taken to Westmead Children's Hospital and underwent two surgeries to repair her eyelid.
• Kmart admitted in the NSW District Court it breached its duty of care over the accident and was ordered to pay the victim's family $59,929 to cover the family's medical expenses and court costs.

Children are naturally curious and active. Giving them the space to move and discover the world around them is important, but we must also be vigilant and take every precaution to protect them from potential dangers.

For parents, grandparents, and caregivers, teaching children to be aware of their surroundings is a necessity. Always closely supervise children in public places and make sure their surroundings are safe and appropriate for their age and abilities.

We hope Cecilia is doing okay and that she gets the help she needs to recover from this ordeal. This just goes to show that no matter where you are or what you're doing, accidents can happen at any time, so always be on the lookout!

How about you, members? What do you think of this story? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

 

[lizclarke]

This is not the fault of KMart.
This was an accident I wonder how much if the child’s ongoing issues relate to her parents carrying on.
BTW swimming is not a contact sport.
Typical grab for $$.

 

[Alexander]

WARNING: This article contains graphic imagery.

A six-year-old girl was shopping with her family at a Kmart store when an ill-fated accident turned her shopping trip into a nightmare.

Cecilia Chen was six when she went shopping with her grandmother at Chatswood Chase shopping centre on Sydney's Lower North Shore on January 8, 2020.

The youngster spotted a pink t-shirt she wanted but as she jumped up to reach it, she lost her balance and smashed her right eye into a metal clothes hook on the rack below.

She was then rushed to Westmead Children's Hospital with blood gushing out of her face where she underwent a four-hour operation to restore her eyelid.

View attachment 8226

Cecilia was injured by a type of hook found in the apparel section of a Kmart store. Credit: 9News.

On Friday, the NSW District Court ordered Kmart to pay Cecilia's family $59,929 to cover medical bills and court costs, after the company had earlier conceded in court that it had breached its duty of care in relation to the accident.

According to testimony given in court, Cecilia suffered from emotional stress as well as physical scarring from the injury, which caused her face to bleed and yellow fluid to leak from one of her eyes.

A reconstructive surgeon sent in medical reports that explained how severe the child's injury was. The reports said that she had a full-thickness transverse tear of the right upper eyelid, which was torn off except for a thin lateral attachment, and that the upper eyelid tear duct was split.

Cecilia's mother, Jill Huang, told the court that Cecilia refused to go to school after the incident and missed a few days because she was hurt and scared. Ms Huang went so far as to ask the school to tell the other children about her daughter's accident and how it had altered her appearance.

View attachment 8227

When the young girl reached up to get a shirt off a hook, she lost her balance and hit her eye on a metal rail. Credit: 9News.

Even though it's been two years since the accident, Cecilia still cries before she goes to sleep. Even though her parents had planned for her to start sleeping alone when she turned six, the eight-year-old still sleeps with them.

The once-active child used to enjoy ballet, basketball, gymnastics, and swimming, but now she'll just play table tennis since she doesn't want to 'risk contact' and get hurt.

The court was told that Cecilia's refusal to discuss the accident and her growing anxiety were 'serious' and a psychiatrist has also noted that the child should begin therapy as soon as possible.

After the incident, Kmart put rubber caps on the top of all hang rail arms in all of their stores. These are checked regularly to try to make sure that something similar doesn't happen again.

'Kmart accepts the court's judgement in this case and extends our best wishes to Cecilia and her family,' said the retail giant in a statement.

Key Takeaways

• Cecilia Chen was shopping with her family in the children's section of Kmart when her right eye hit a metal rail clothing hook holding children's apparel.
• The six-year-old was then taken to Westmead Children's Hospital and underwent two surgeries to repair her eyelid.
• Kmart admitted in the NSW District Court it breached its duty of care over the accident and was ordered to pay the victim's family $59,929 to cover the family's medical expenses and court costs.

Children are naturally curious and active. Giving them the space to move and discover the world around them is important, but we must also be vigilant and take every precaution to protect them from potential dangers.

For parents, grandparents, and caregivers, teaching children to be aware of their surroundings is a necessity. Always closely supervise children in public places and make sure their surroundings are safe and appropriate for their age and abilities.

We hope Cecilia is doing okay and that she gets the help she needs to recover from this ordeal. This just goes to show that no matter where you are or what you're doing, accidents can happen at any time, so always be on the lookout!

How about you, members? What do you think of this story? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Quoting from the article, "Children are naturally curious and active. Giving them the space to move and discover the world around them is important, but we must also be vigilant and take every precaution to protect them from potential dangers.

For parents, grandparents, and caregivers, teaching children to be aware of their surroundings is a necessity. Always closely supervise children in public places and make sure their surroundings are safe and appropriate for their age and abilities." Unquote.

All that is agreed, no argument. What is unacceptable is that children are allowed to do what they want when they want and they are not disciplined nor instructed on taking care. Of course it is never the child or the parents fault, is it? It is always someone else!! Kmart did the right thing, also agreed, but they should never have been put in that situation. The child gets hurt, seriously hurt, and she has my greatest sympathy and I hope she gets well soon but ... whose fault was it?

 

[Kaylee]

I work in retail and all too common the parents let the kids run free so they can shop in peace.
I have also been told it was my responsibility as a shop assistant to keep an eye on their kids so they
don't get hurt. Your kids, your responsibility.

 

[Alexander]

I work in retail and all too common the parents let the kids run free so they can shop in peace.
I have also been told it was my responsibility as a shop assistant to keep an eye on their kids so they
don't get hurt. Your kids, your responsibility.

Quite right. So many parents expect teachers and shop assistants and bus drivers and swimming instructors and tram drivers, you name it, to do what they should be doing. Teach, train and look after their own children to accept responsibility for their actions. They don't in many cases and will pass the blame onto someone else if they can and they will ALWAYS find someone else. I know this from personal experience.

 

[Greg Pitman]

How tall was this kid?

 

[Cezba]

While this is indeed a traumatic experience for the child and her family it was hardly the stores fault.
Parents who take their kids into stores and allow them to treat the area like a play zone are more than likely the reason.
I was in a ladies wear store last week where “two little cherubs” ( not my opinion) were playing hide and seek in the womens underwear racks. Bras and knickers soon littered the floor while the disinterested mother ignored them.
I used a few simple words like “don’t do that and No” in my days of parenting. Teaching responsible behaviour is a parents job.
Seems like now days it’s every one else’s job to be responsible.
If the child had jumped in front of a truck would it have been the drivers fault?
Shame on the greedy parents suing KMart for their own poor
skills

How do feel sitting up there on your pedestal judging the parents of this child who rightfully sued KMart. Shame on you for calling these people greedy

 

[Alexander]

How do feel sitting up there on your pedestal judging the parents of this child who rightfully sued KMart. Shame on you for calling these people greedy

Where on earth are you coming from? Is your pedestal so high you can't see the ground where life is lived? It is your child which is causing the problem and you should do something about it and not pass the responsibility on to someone else!! Shame on you indeed.

 

[Cezba]

Where on earth are you coming from? Is your pedestal so high you can't see the ground where life is lived? It is your child which is causing the problem and you should do something about it and not pass the responsibility on to someone else!! Shame on you indeed.

Re-read the article, nowhere did it indicate the child was playing up and causing a problem. She jumped up to reach a top and was hurt. Any business has an ethical responsibility as well as a legal duty of care to ensure safe equipment and practices are in place. I don’t believe you‘d be feeling responsible if this were your child involved in the accident.

 

[Alexander]

Re-read the article, nowhere did it indicate the child was playing up and causing a problem. She jumped up to reach a top and was hurt. Any business has an ethical responsibility as well as a legal duty of care to ensure safe equipment and practices are in place. I don’t believe you‘d be feeling responsible if this were your child involved in the accident.

If her parents were looking at what was happening they would have lifted the articledown for her. You can't blame a shop catering for an adult customer to be held responsible for what the child did.