Watch CBS News

Owner Of Ski Resort Where Child Fell Says Supervision Is Responsibility Of Parent

By Noel McLaren

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Just hours after a nine-year-old took a frightening fall more than 20 feet from a Fairfield, PA ski lift, another child took an even bigger plunge at a different Pennsylvania slope.

"He fell 22 feet and 9 inches," says Spring Mountain Adventures Owner Rick Buckman.

A five-year-old boy fell at his Montgomery County hill Saturday shortly after 7:00. Buckman says he was lucky he was wearing a helmet.

"They attended to the child. He had a cut on his chin, and they evaluated him on the scene and determined it was probably an upper right leg injury of some sort," he recalls.

Buckman says his slope is safe and insists his employees took all the appropriate precautions.

Just before the boy got on the chair lift, operators say that they were concerned about his small size, so they asked an adult to ride with him.

"At the same time, the adult that was with the boy who was further back in line stated, 'He's okay, just let him go,'" says Buckman.

Skiers who spoke with Eyewitness News say lodges should take more safety measures.

"They ought to put restrictions that if a young child is going on there, the parent must be with them to a certain age, certain height," says Eric McIllmurray.

Buckman says supervision has always been the responsibility of the parent.

"I can tell you that my children and my grandchildren did not ride the lift by themselves when they were five," he says.

In his 15 years owning Spring Mountain Adventures, only two other riders have fallen from his lifts. He recommends lessons before anyone, regardless of their age, rides a lift on their own.

You may also be interested in these stories:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.