A routine shopping trip turned into a frightening ordeal in just seconds.

Now, parents and grandparents alike are being urged to take a closer look at a common store display.

Sometimes the biggest risks hide in plain sight. What happened?

This regular shopping trip turned into every parent’s nightmare for Western Sydney mum Maureen Ahluwalia, whose two-year-old daughter Amaira narrowly escaped permanent eye damage.

This incident follows a run-in with a low-hanging merchandise rack at Blacktown’s Westpoint shopping centre on July 8.

Now, Maureen is on a mission to make retail spaces safer for children across Australia—and her story is a wake-up call for all of us.

Amaira was walking right beside her mum, just as she often does, when disaster struck.

Western Sydney mum is campaigning for improved retail safety standards after her two-year-old daughter narrowly avoided blindness from a low-hanging merchandise hook at a shopping centre. Image source: Facebook and Youtube.

‘She’s just turned and the rack hook’s gone in her eye. I tried to calm her down, literally her eyelid was inside out,’ Maureen recalled. ‘I saw when she opened her eye that there’s blood coming into it.’

Her sister-in-law quickly suggested taking Amaira to the Specsavers inside the centre. Staff rushed the toddler in for immediate care.

‘They said she didn’t scratch her cornea, she was very lucky to miss it by less than a millimetre. If it was, she would have had some damage to her vision or even blindness.’

Amaira developed a painful blood clot, but avoided the worst.

When Maureen contacted Harris Scarfe, the store where it happened, she says it took more than six days to receive a courtesy call from the risk management team.

Her request for CCTV footage was denied.

‘They weren’t interested in looking into why this happened or if we need to change our hooks or anything … it wasn’t a priority for them.’

As she searched online, Maureen came across a string of similar cases.

‘Kids have lost their vision over it, kids have ended up in hospital, with permanent damage. That’s when I knew this is a real problem—this is not a parent’s fault. It’s beyond that.’

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Major retailers like Kmart, Target and Rebel Sport added rubber and plastic tips to their hooks back in 2020, but many dangerous fixtures remain at toddler height.

Determined to make change, Maureen launched a NSW parliamentary petition calling for updated safety standards, supported by Blacktown MP Stephen Bali.

Online, her campaign has drawn both support and criticism. Some users cruelly suggested: ‘Keep your kids in the car. A lot safer there.’ Others claimed it was ‘preventable with a parent doing their job.’

Maureen pushes back: ‘It’s the same as having a fence around the pool. Why do we do that? Why do we have booster seats for kids? These are all safety measures to prevent what can possibly happen. This is not about paying attention to your kids. My daughter was two steps away from me. I’d never spoken about compensation … but no money could ever bring back my daughter’s eye if she had lost it.’

While this story centres on children, the risks don’t stop there. Poorly designed store fixtures can be dangerous for seniors too, from tripping hazards to low-hanging hooks.

With slower reaction times and reduced vision, what might be a near miss for one person could be life-changing for another.

Retailers have a duty of care to make their stores safe for everyone—and that means proactive safety checks, proper staff training, and listening when customers raise red flags.

Read more: You Won’t Believe What This Mum Found at a Gold Coast Play Centre – Every Parent Needs to See This!

Key Takeaways

• A Western Sydney mum is campaigning for improved retail safety standards after her two-year-old daughter narrowly avoided blindness from a low-hanging merchandise hook at a shopping centre.
• Major retailers like Kmart, Target, and Rebel Sport have previously added coverings to the ends of display hooks, but concerns remain about dangerous hooks still being left at toddler height.
• Mrs Ahluwalia has launched a NSW parliamentary petition, supported by Labor MP Stephen Bali, calling for stricter regulations on retail fixtures to prevent further injuries to children.
• Despite facing criticism online blaming parental supervision, Mrs Ahluwalia insists the issue is about wider safety measures, comparing it to pool fencing and booster seats, rather than parental fault.

Have you ever had a close call or noticed a safety hazard in a store? Do you think retailers are doing enough to keep customers safe? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below!

 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

Exactly..
What ever happen to taking responsibility for one’s actions?

A case of out of sight, out of mind I think ...

 

[7777]

Yes, just like at our local Vinnie's store; kids run riot and get up all sorts of mischief whilst their ignorant parent blithely looks around at clothing - no care or responsibility whatsoever from either a parent or grandparent!

Hi Jumping Jack Flash thankyou for your post. There is no where that it states that this child was running around misbehaving. If the store would provide the surveillance camera footage of the incident to be seen, one would see that the child was not running around mid misbehaving. Perhaps the store does not want to show the store camera footage, as they do to want the evidence shown in a court of law. Have a lovely evening.

 

[7777]

A case of out of sight, out of mind I think ...

 

[7777]

Dear member Jumping Jack Flash thankyou for your post. There is nowhere that states that the child was running around misbehaving One has to ask, why is the store refusing to show the store video footage of the incident. Answer might be that the evidence in the video footage, will go against the store, in a court of law, making them liable for copeensation to be paid to the child, for pain and suffering. Have a lovely evening.

 

[7777]

Exactly..
What ever happen to taking responsibility for one’s actions?

Dear member BruceC thankyou for your post. Yes what ever happened to the request, for the store to show their store camera footage, that was refused to be show by the store manager. The store does not want to show the store video footage of the incident, because one would clearly see that the child was not running around and misbehaving, and second, the evidence of the video footage would make the store liable to pay compensation to the child for pain and suffering. The store needs to take responsibility for their inappropriate action of placing the hook on a dangerous position for customers. Have a lovely evening.

 

[BruceC]

Dear member BruceC thankyou for your post. Yes what ever happened to the request, for the store to show their store camera footage, that was refused to be show by the store manager. The store does not want to show the store video footage of the incident, because one would clearly see that the child was not running around and misbehaving, and second, the evidence of the video footage would make the store liable to pay compensation to the child for pain and suffering. The store needs to take responsibility for their inappropriate action of placing the hook on a dangerous position for customers. Have a lovely evening.

You assume that the footage shows this..
Maybe it shows the opposite.
There is no legal requirement for companies to show footage unless requested by Police or courts!

 

[BruceC]

Hi Jumping Jack Flash thankyou for your post. There is no where that it states that this child was running around misbehaving. If the store would provide the surveillance camera footage of the incident to be seen, one would see that the child was not running around mid misbehaving. Perhaps the store does not want to show the store camera footage, as they do to want the evidence shown in a court of law. Have a lovely evening.

Of cause it doesn’t state that the child was running around out of control.
If the mother owned up to that then she would not be able to sue..
Are you honestly that stupid?

 

[7777]

You assume that the footage shows this..
Maybe it shows the opposite.
There is no legal requirement for companies to show footage unless requested by Police or courts!

Good morning dear member BruceC, thankyou for your post. We can not assume anything until footage of the incident is seen. And if this lady does choose to sue, this footage of the incident is exactly what the courts will be requesting as evidence. Have a lovely day.

 

[7777]

Of cause it doesn’t state that the child was running around out of control.
If the mother owned up to that then she would not be able to sue..
Are you honestly that stupid?

Dear BruceC, the mother doesn't have to state that her child was or was not, running around out of control, as the mother knows there are cameras in the store, and that the cameras will show the truth, wether or not her child was running around. Can I say that you are showing very little compassion or understanding, for that child who had a hook go into her eye, that could have resulted in permanent eye loss. How can you be so judgemental without viewing evidence on the store camera footage. Have a lovely day.

 

[BruceC]

Good morning dear member BruceC, thankyou for your post. We can not assume anything until footage of the incident is seen. And if this lady does choose to sue, this footage of the incident is exactly what the courts will be requesting as evidence. Have a lovely day.

Good morning.You are the one who assumed in your previous post attached.
So how do you know the “the child is not at fault and the injury occurred to the way the hook was placed” as you state. Obviously by your statement you were in the store and present at the time of the accident!


“Dear member BruceC, thankyou for your post. If you viewed the stores CCTV footage then you would know the true story. But you are right, you will never know the true story, because it was said that the store will not release their CCTV footage of the way the child was injured by the hook. Why, because you would clearly see that the child is not at fault. The injury occurred due to the stores irresponsible and dangerous way the hook was placed he store is. The child was not said to have been running around, just walking looking at clothing items of interest. Wishing you a pleasant evening. “

 

[7777]

Good morning.You are the one who assumed in your previous post attached.
So how do you know the “the child is not at fault and the injury occurred to the way the hook was placed” as you state. Obviously by your statement you were in the store and present at the time of the accident!


“Dear member BruceC, thankyou for your post. If you viewed the stores CCTV footage then you would know the true story. But you are right, you will never know the true story, because it was said that the store will not release their CCTV footage of the way the child was injured by the hook. Why, because you would clearly see that the child is not at fault. The injury occurred due to the stores irresponsible and dangerous way the hook was placed he store is. The child was not said to have been running around, just walking looking at clothing items of interest. Wishing you a pleasant evening. “

Dear BruceC thankyou for your post. I am not saying that the child did or did not run throuout the store, l just don't believe in making any statement either way until the evidence on the store camera is shown.

 

[7777]

Dear BruceC, I have my suspicions about the store not willing to show the camera footage. Perhaps the camera footage is not in the stores favour.

 

[BruceC]

Dear BruceC thankyou for your post. I am not saying that the child did or did not run throuout the store, l just don't believe in making any statement either way until the evidence on the store camera is shown.

Dear BruceC thankyou for your post. I am not saying that the child did or did not run throuout the store, l just don't believe in making any statement either way until the evidence on the store camera is shown.

But you did say “Why, because you would clearly see that the child is not at fault. The injury occurred due to the stores irresponsible and dangerous way the hook was placed he store is.“ therefore you are saying it!
As I stated previously. YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!

mmm
Maybe the store is keeping the footage in hope the lady takes them to court then she ”may” be shown to be just attempting to scam them of money..
Above all this and no matter what the reason I certainly hope the child’s site is OK!

 

[7777]

But you did say “Why, because you would clearly see that the child is not at fault. The injury occurred due to the stores irresponsible and dangerous way the hook was placed he store is.“ therefore you are saying it!
As I stated previously. YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!

mmm
Maybe the store is keeping the footage in hope the lady takes them to court then she ”may” be shown to be just attempting to scam them of money..
Above all this and no matter what the reason I certainly hope the child’s site is OK!

Dear member BruceC, thankyou for your kind understanding. Have an enjoyable and pleasant evening.

 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

Hi Jumping Jack Flash thankyou for your post. There is no where that it states that this child was running around misbehaving. If the store would provide the surveillance camera footage of the incident to be seen, one would see that the child was not running around mid misbehaving. Perhaps the store does not want to show the store camera footage, as they do to want the evidence shown in a court of law. Have a lovely evening.

Granted, the said child was not running around. In my experience, parents are generally ignorant of their kids behaviour whilst in a store........

 

[7777]

Granted, the said child was not running around. In my experience, parents are generally ignorant of their kids behaviour whilst in a store........

Good morning dear member Jumping Jack Flash, thankyou for your post. I respect your opinion. However, here in the city of Melbourne, the children are well behaved and parents don't need to constantly remind them to behave. The children have been taught to be respectful in the presence of people and their property. Perhaps the place where you are, the children may be misbehaving, but come to Melbourne, and you will find it rare for children to be running around a store and parents not caring. Our parents work hard to make a living and send their children to school to get an education, and teach their children manners before they enter the public domain like shopping centres or social gatherings. Wishing you an enjoyable and pleasant week.

 

[BruceC]

Dear member BruceC, thankyou for your kind understanding. Have an enjoyable and pleasant evening.

I have no understanding of your stance.
One minute you state that the video WILL show that the kid was not running wild then in the next sentence you say that you don’t assume anything!
Totally confused….

 

[7777]

I have no understanding of your stance.
One minute you state that the video WILL show that the kid was not running wild then in the next sentence you say that you don’t assume anything!
Totally confused….

Dear member BruceC, thankyou for your post. All l can say is let us all look at the store camera footage before either of us come to a conclusion. Either way l respect your opinion. God bless.

 

[Jumping Jack Flash]

Good morning dear member Jumping Jack Flash, thankyou for your post. I respect your opinion. However, here in the city of Melbourne, the children are well behaved and parents don't need to constantly remind them to behave. The children have been taught to be respectful in the presence of people and their property. Perhaps the place where you are, the children may be misbehaving, but come to Melbourne, and you will find it rare for children to be running around a store and parents not caring. Our parents work hard to make a living and send their children to school to get an education, and teach their children manners before they enter the public domain like shopping centres or social gatherings. Wishing you an enjoyable and pleasant week.

Seriously ..... kids don't misbehave in Melbourne?? Utter Rubbish. When given the opportunity, most of them misbehave no matter what their upbringing and frankly, I have no intention to entering that 'black hole of Calcutta' (aka Melbourne)......