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Crying Child Left Hanging on Climbing Wall While Instructor Texts and Mom Films
Updated: May 27, 2021
Originally Published: March 5, 2016
In a cringe-worthy incident that highlights our digital obsession, a video surfaced this week showing a distressed girl stuck on a climbing wall, while her instructor was busy texting, and her mother recorded the whole thing. For a solid minute, neither adult intervened, leaving the poor child sobbing and desperately glancing at both of them, probably thinking, “Could one of you put down your phone and help me?” As the video wraps up, the little girl leans her head against the wall, clearly defeated.
This incident took place at Funtopia Surrey in British Columbia, and the video made its rounds on Facebook before being pulled down, likely due to the backlash the mother, Claire Thompson, received for not rushing to her daughter’s aid. “How can she just film this instead of helping her kid?” one viewer lamented. Such comments flooded in after the video was shared, prompting a serious discussion about parental instincts.
Claire defended her choice to record, stating online, “It broke my heart not to run and help my daughter right away, but I needed to capture this as evidence.” It seems she worried that without proof, the gym wouldn’t take her concerns seriously. Another commenter pointed out that Claire might not have known how to safely assist her daughter off the wall. Understanding climbing equipment isn’t rocket science, but many gyms require a few classes before allowing unsupervised climbing.
As for the instructor, she was let go shortly after the video went viral. “This is completely unacceptable,” said Funtopia Surrey’s manager, Sam Johnson. “This employee broke multiple internal rules, including our no-phone policy outside of the staff room.” The instructor had only been with the climbing gym for a few months but had likely been trained on the importance of watching over children in her care. While the decision to leave the girl hanging was poor, at least this incident has put a spotlight on the issue, preventing her from doing the same to another child in the future.
Watch the full video below.
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In summary, this alarming event serves as a reminder to prioritize the well-being of children over our devices. While the mother later defended her actions, it raises questions about our digital habits impacting parental instincts. The instructor’s dismissal emphasizes the importance of responsibility in roles involving children’s safety.