A child was killed in an accident involving Peloton’s Tread Plus treadmill, Peloton CEO John Foley said in a note posted on the company’s website on Thursday.
“I am contacting you today because I recently learned about a tragic accident involving a child and Tread +, resulting in a death, unthinkable,” wrote Foley. “While we are aware of only a small handful of incidents involving Tread + where children were injured, each one is devastating for all of us in Peloton, and our hearts are with the families involved.”
Peloton declined to provide further details about the child, the incident or the “handful of previous incidents” that Foley referred to. But according to Bloomberg, a report presented in February to the Consumer Product Safety Commission mentions a second separate incident with a Tread Plus treadmill in which a 3-year-old boy suffered a “significant brain injury”.
The report states that the child had “step marks on his back”, a neck injury and facial injuries. That report was updated with a note from Peloton on March 17, saying that the company had been told that the child would “fully recover”.
The company’s statement on Thursday said the Tread Plus was designed and tested for use by people over the age of 16 and weighing more than 105 pounds. “In addition, when Tread + is not in use, members must continue to follow safety instructions, keeping the security key, which prevents Tread + from operating, away from Tread + and out of the reach of children”, it says.
Foley warned that children and pets should be kept “away from Peloton fitness equipment at all times. Before starting a workout, make sure the space around your Peloton exercise equipment is free. ”He also said the company is“ currently evaluating ways to enforce our warnings about these critical safety precautions to prevent future accidents ”.
Despite their somewhat expensive prices, Peloton’s exercise bikes and treadmills were extremely popular during the coronavirus pandemic, with most gyms closed and people distancing themselves socially at home. The company reported that its revenue increased 66 percent year-over-year in the first three months of 2020. The company had a hard time keeping up with demand for its products from the beginning.
In October, Peloton released a recall for docking pedals on about 27,000 of its bikes after reports of broken pedals that caused injuries, including several that required medical attention.
Approximately 25,000 children are injured annually in accidents with equipment related to exercise at home. One of the most common types of injuries is the friction burns that happen when a child touches the moving belt of a machine. In 2009, boxer Mike Tyson’s four-year-old daughter, Exodus, died in a treadmill accident after a string was wrapped around his neck.
March 18 update, 4:31 PM ET: Added details about a February incident involving a 3-year-old boy being injured on a Peloton mat