4-Year-Old Hit by Mini Viking at Apartment Night Market... Skull Fracture

Hit on the forehead under the Viking... Surgery needed after becoming an adult
Owner: "The child got in by breaking through the access prevention device"

A serious accident occurred in which a child was struck by a 'Mini Viking' ride installed at a night market within an apartment complex, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

According to a Yonhap News report on the 13th, around 10 p.m. on the 19th of last month, at a night market held in an apartment complex in Okjeong-dong, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi Province, a 4-year-old boy, A, was hit on the forehead by the underside of a moving Mini Viking ride. A's parents, after noticing their child was missing from the apartment playground, searched the night market area and eventually found A under the Mini Viking. At the time of discovery, nearby residents had already pulled the injured A out from beneath the Viking.

A was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a skull fracture and brain hemorrhage. The doctor who examined A reportedly stated, "Because he is still very young, surgery is difficult at this time and must be performed after he becomes an adult."

The 'Mini Viking' installed at the apartment night market in Okjeong-dong, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

There was a safety fence installed next to the Mini Viking, and a manager operating the ride was nearby, but they were unable to prevent the accident. It is understood that A approached the front of the moving Mini Viking and was struck on the head by the underside of the Viking, causing him to fall inward. The portable Mini Viking was installed under a contract with the night market organizers, and it continued to operate the next day with a 'No Entry' banner covering the front.

The cause of the accident is disputed between A's parents and the Mini Viking operator. A's parents claim the accident occurred due to inadequate safety management, while the operator insists the child entered through a gap.

A's father said, "The fence was not properly installed, and there was no dedicated manager for safety control. Quite some time has passed since the accident, but we have not even received an apology from the operator." On the other hand, the Mini Viking operator explained, "There was a double barrier at the front as well, but the child got through a gap. The ride was in operation at the time, so we did not see a small child approaching."

The police are investigating the exact circumstances of the accident by interviewing witnesses and are also looking into the operator's responsibility for safety management. A representative from the Yangju Police Station stated, "The case has been registered under charges of professional negligence causing injury. We will conduct an investigation using CCTV footage from the apartment complex and witness testimonies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.