Primark fall girl: Family release picture and thank staff who saved her

Apr 6 2008

The three-year-old girl who was injured as the result of a fall from an escalator in Primark on Friday has been named by police.

Evie Parry remains in a 'critical but stable' condition in hospital today.

She has been treated for a broken left arm and left leg and for internal injuries. Her condition continues to be closely monitored.

She is being treated at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital.

A police spokesman said: "Evie's parents would like to express their thanks to all the staff at the Primark store and also the members of the public, who responded quickly in providing 'First Aid' to their daughter after she fell.

"Evie's parents would also like to thank all the staff at the Liverpool Children's NHS Trust, particularly all the staff at the Intensive Care Unit.

"At this stage Evie's family have asked that the media continue to respect their privacy as they do not wish to speak to the media at this time."

Evie was initially treated at the Royal Liverpool Hospital before she was transferred to intensive care at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

She fell from the second floor to the ground floor at the Church Street retail unit at about 1.30pm on Friday.

Detectives were investigating the incident together with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Liverpool City Council.

Crime scene investigators and the HSE carried out forensic examinations of the scene.

On Friday night, ouncil engineers tested the escalators and cleared them of any mechanical faults.

The store, which at 84,000 sq ft is one of the biggest Primark stores in the UK, has reopened its doors with the escalators in use.

Geoff Lancaster, Head of external affairs at Primark, said: "The Health and Safety Executive gave us clearance to open the store.

"We have drafted in additional senior staff from other stores because obviously the staff on duty yesterday were pretty shocked by the whole thing.

"We also have additional security on throughout the store and they will be paying extra attention to the escalators but this is purely a precautionary measure."

The victim was initially treated at the Royal Liverpool hospital but transferred last night to Alder Hey’s intensive care unit with her mother.

The crowded store, hugely popular since it opened last year, was cleared at about 1.40pm after horrified shoppers saw the girl fall.

Liverpool City Council health and safety officers are leading the investigation which includes police Crime Scene Investigators and the Health & Safety Executive.

They will review CCTV footage and gather statements from eye-witnesses to determine how the youngster came to fall.