A three-year-old has been left traumatised and suffering nightmares after the tip of her finger was chopped off during a shopping trip. Aila Dunbar was sitting in her pram at the tills in a Matalan store when she became curious about a pull-down tray at the store in Huddersfield.
The toddler's dad, Kevin Dunbar, said the tray acted "like a guillotine" as Aila's right index finger was chopped off below the fingernail. Dad, Kevin and mum, Faye Wood were getting ready to leave the store when the horrific accent occurred on Saturday afternoon.
According to the furious dad, the tip of her finger is yet to be found, reports Yorkshire Live.
Aila was rushed to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary by her parent and was transferred to Bradford Royal Infirmary where she had an operation to file down the end of her finger. She may need further surgery in the future.
Kevin said: "We are shocked. It was horrendous. Aila is having nightmares and doesn't want to go to the 'red shop' anymore. She would not go to sleep last night and was up in the night. She is saying her finger is bleeding and it is chopped. She has had the week off nursery. She has not wanted to go."
Kevin says the tray remains in place at the store despite being 'very dangerous'. Aila's grandma Ali Cockhill has set up a GoFundMe page to pay for a trip to her granddaughter's dream place, Peppa Pig World.
Ali said: "It has been an extremely traumatic time for her and she's doing her best to be happy. She's had nightmares the last couple of nights since it happened and is in lots of pain and worry. She's become terrified of doctors and nurses whereas before she adored them. It would be so nice if Aila could have something positive happen to her in this very negative time in her life and just to help her smile and be cheerful."
A spokesperson for Matalan said: "The well-being and safety of all those in our stores is our utmost priority and we were concerned to hear of an incident reported in our Huddersfield store. We immediately commenced a rigorous investigation and concluded that the staff in-store acted swiftly and professionally to assist with this unfortunate accident. We understand that this was upsetting for all involved and our thoughts and well wishes are with Aila and her family."
It is believed that two members of staff assisted with looking for the fingertip. Matalan staff are understood to have taped up the table for further investigation, and the pull-down tray is understood to be an 'accessible writing desk'.
The GoFundMe page can be found at www.gofundme.com/f/3-year-olds-finger-partially-amputate.
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