Peloton Tread+ owners with kids are told to STOP using the $4K treadmills 'immediately' by federal regulator after one child died and nearly 40 others were injured in accidents - but $24B firm STILL fights recall
Federal regulators have released a terrifying video of a child being dragged under a $4,000 Peloton treadmill as they warned consumers to stop using the equipment after another child was killed and dozens have been injured.
The graphic video shows a young boy being sucked beneath a Peloton Tread+ and grappling to free himself from the exercise machine.
The footage was released Saturday by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as part of an urgent warning to consumers about the dangers of the popular home fitness equipment.
The CPSC said it has so far learned of 39 incidents involving small children and a pet being injured beneath the Peloton Tread+ machines, including the death of one child.
Despite the safety concerns, Peloton is fighting a federal safety recall and has allegedly delayed an investigation into the potential safety problems.
Peloton Tread+, the machine referred to by the regulator, is only available in the US. Another newer machine, called Peloton Tread, has been on sale in the UK since December 26 last year, according to the company's website.
In a news release it said the warning from the safety commission was 'inaccurate and misleading' and that there's no reason to stop using the treadmill as long as children and pets are kept away from it at all times, it is turned off when not in use, and a safety key is removed.
But the safety commission said that in at least one episode, a child was pulled under the treadmill while a parent was running on it, suggesting it can be dangerous to children even while a parent is present.
If adults want to keep using the treadmill, the commission said, they should use it only in a locked room so children and pets can't come near it. When not in use, the treadmill should be unplugged and the safety key taken out and hidden away. The commission also said to keep exercise balls and other objects away from it, because those have been pulled under the treadmill, too.
Federal regulators have released a terrifying video of a child being dragged under a $4,000 Peloton treadmill as they warned consumers to stop using the equipment after a child was killed and dozens have been injured
In the harrowing video, a little girl is seen walking on the treadmill which is turned on.
A little boy then walks behind the exercise machine and picks up a big pink ball.
He holds the ball toward the back of the treadmill and the ball is seen being pulled under the machine, dragging the boy's arms with it.
This appears to cause the treadmill to stop moving as the boy's arms lift the machine slightly off the ground.
The little girl gets off the treadmill and dashes off out of view, while the boy appears to be stuck.
The treadmill moves again, slowly at first as it appears the boy is trying to resist it moving and pulling him further under the equipment.
At this point, the power of the machine appears to cause the little boy to shake and suddenly the treadmill resumes a faster speed, dragging the boy further underneath to his head.
He continues to be pulled under more and more until only his legs are sticking out as he appears to thrash his legs in an attempt to free himself.
The boy manages to pull himself back out from underneath the treadmill which continues to move and he is seen walking out of view away from the machine.
Safety regulators warned people with kids and pets Saturday to immediately stop using a treadmill made by Peloton after one child died and others were injured.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said children and at least one pet were pulled, pinned and entrapped under the rear roller of the Tread+ treadmill, leading to fractures, scrapes and the death of one child.
The CPSC said it needed to 'warn the public quickly of the hazard' after dozens of incidents have come to light of children becoming 'entrapped, pinned, and pulled under the rear roller' of the treadmill.
'It is believed that at least one incident occurred while a parent was running on the treadmill, suggesting that the hazard cannot be avoided simply by locking the device when not in use,' it said.
The graphic video shows a young boy being sucked beneath a Peloton Tread+ and grappling to free himself from the exercise machine
In the harrowing video, a little girl is seen walking on the treadmill which is turned on. A little boy then walks behind the exercise machine and picks up a big pink ball
He holds the ball toward the back of the treadmill and the ball is seen being pulled under the machine, dragging the boy's arms with it
'Reports of a pet and objects being sucked beneath the Tread+ also suggest possible harm to the user if the user loses balance as a result.'
The machine poses 'serious risks to children for abrasions, fractures, and death', it said.
Consumers are being urged to stop using the Peloton Tread+ immediately if there are small children or pets at home.
If consumers do continue to use the product, they should keep it in a locked room, out of reach of children and pets and keep all objects away from it, the commission said.
The CPSC said the machine should be unplugged and stored safely away when not in use and any incidents reported to CPSC.
Peloton fired back at the commission's notice claiming in a statement that the warning is 'inaccurate and misleading' and that the Tread+ is safe so long as safety instructions are followed.
'The Consumer Product Safety Commission's unilateral press release about the Peloton Tread+ treadmill is inaccurate and misleading,' the statement read.
'The Tread+ is safe for Members to use in their homes and comes with safety instructions and warnings to ensure its safe use.
He continues to be pulled under more and more as he appears to thrash his legs in an attempt to free himself
The boy ends up with only his legs sticking out from under the machine. He then manages to pull himself back out
'Like all motorized exercise equipment, the Tread+ can pose hazards if the warnings and safety instructions are not followed.'
The company said the machine is 'not for children under 16' and that it warns users to keep children and pets away from it.
'Peloton warns Members not to let children use the Tread+ and to keep children, pets, and objects away from the Tread+ at all times,' said Peloton.
'Any owner of a treadmill – whether made by Peloton or not – should follow these warnings, as they are included in the applicable safety standards, which the Peloton Tread+ meets.'
The urgent warning comes less than a month after Peloton announced a child had been killed by a Peloton Tread+ and federal investigators announced a probe into the incident.
Federal regulators told the Washington Post this week that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued an administrative subpoena requiring Peloton to name the child with family contact information within 24 hours so the agency could continue investigating.
Jessica Kleiman, a spokesperson for Peloton, said that the company did not provide personal information about the child to the agency because it 'respects its customers' privacy,' the outlet reported.
The child's family 'asked us not to provide the information to the CPSC,' she said. However, officials claimed that the company complied.
Peloton is fighting a federal safety recall and has allegedly delayed an investigation into potential safety problems it was revealed that a child died
Federal regulators said the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued an administrative subpoena this week
The subpoena required Peloton to name the child with family contact information within 24 hours so the agency could continue investigating
Peloton, which is worth $34 billion, had been negotiating with regulators on the wording and timing of the alert to consumers regarding possible dangers posed by the $4,300 Peloton Tread+, officials told the Washington Post.
An official familiar with the case told the outlet: 'This doesn't happen with other treadmills.'
The official said regulators were concerned that the Peloton treadmill seemingly has a 'different hazard pattern than is typically seen.'
Regulators were 'alarmed' that people allegedly had injuries including broken bones and head trauma after they were pulled under the exercise equipment, the Washington Post reported.
Peloton 'does not believe a recall is necessary,' Kleiman told the Washington Post.
The company said its treadmills are 'safe for use when the warnings and safety instructions we provide are followed.'
Kleiman also noted that the company has issued 'repeated safety warnings' to its customers since reports of incidents regarding the treadmills.
'Peloton is still seeking to jointly work with CPSC to urge [its customers] to follow all warnings and safety instructions,' Kleiman said in the statement.
Peloton co-founded and CEO John Foley shared news of the fatality in a letter addressed to owners of Tread+
Foley speaks on stage during 'Peloton Gears Up' at Vanity Fair's 6th Annual New Establishment Summit in Beverly Hills in October 2019
Peloton CEO John Foley revealed that the company was raising safety concerns regarding its treadmill in an email to consumers last month.
'While we are aware of only a small handful of incidents involving the Tread+ where children have been hurt, each one is devastating to all of us at Peloton, and our hearts go out to the families involved,' Foley wrote.
Foley, who is also a co-founder of Peloton, went on to share the company's standard safety warnings, among them keeping children and pets away from exercise equipment at all times, and removing the safety key from the treadmill at the end of a workout.
'We design and build all of our products with safety in mind,' Foley stated.
'But in order to help ensure that you and your family members stay safe with Peloton products in your home, we need your help. This is especially true during what I hope is the final stretch of the pandemic where everyone is still at home.'
Last October, Peloton issued a voluntary recall on pedals for 27,000 of its bikes after consumers reported pedals breaking off and causing more than a dozen injuries, including some that required stitches.
Peloton bikes range in price from $1,895 to $2,495, and the treadmills cost from $2,495 for the basic model to $4,295 for Tread+.
The Tread+ was called 'Tread' from August 2018 to September 2020, when it was renamed.
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