The ACT government says it will investigate the safety of a Kambah playground after two women broke their backs while using the flying fox.
Life changed in a matter of seconds for two Canberrans, who say they fractured their vertebrae after falling from the flying fox at the Kambah Adventure Playground.
They say they are yet to hear from the government after asking for safety improvements, but the government says there is a sign warning of the risks and the playground is inspected twice a week for any safety and maintenance issues.
Fourteen-year-old Tahlia Floyer had been making the most of a walk with friends during lockdown on September 11, when the group ended up at Kambah Adventure Playground.
Watching her friends take turns on the flying fox, she noticed some were "stumbling off" the end, her mother said.
"And then she went on it, and it was just that fast, it happened so quick that she went flying down and hit the end with such force that it kind of flicked her up into a somersault," Janelle Cirina said.
"And she came down and landed on her head and neck."
Tahlia later learned she had fractured her T11, T12 and T1 vertebrae, injuries that would see her undergo surgery to have five screws placed in her back, and her spine fused together.
Ms Cirina said she was "extremely grateful" two passers-by intervened to ensure Tahlia wasn't moved in the moments after the fall.
"It was just extremely lucky because as you can imagine, her friends said, 'We're going to rush over and just sort of help her up, and pull her up'," Ms Cirina said.
"But she said there was a lady walking by that saw it and rushed straight over and said 'do not move' ... and immobilised her."
Another woman, a nurse, helped to keep Tahlia calm while they waited for an ambulance, before she was transported to Canberra Hospital and later airlifted to Westmead.
Florence Ho said she was left with a similar injury on July 25, when she trialled the flying fox ahead of letting her kids play on it.
The kids had been asking to try the larger flying fox of two located at the park, prompting Ms Ho, a nurse, to pause and assess the risk.
"When I looked at it, it's a very, very long flying fox and it's quite high as well," she said.
"And then there is no harness or anything, it was just a bar that I used all the strength in my hands to hang on."
She managed to hold on for the entire length, but was thrown off by the impact of hitting the end, landing on her shoulder and then her back.
Ms Ho sustained a T12 compression fracture from the fall, and though her recovery was traumatic, she said she was one of the "lucky" ones.
"I was lucky I'm the one who fell, actually," she said. "If it was my kids, I don't know what's gonna happen."
Both women say they want the equipment to be assessed.
Ms Ho said she tried to report the incident to Access Canberra, and received no response, while Ms Cirina said she was connected with the body responsible for managing the Kambah playground, but hasn't heard back since making her report.
A government spokesperson said no issues had been identified during the playground's twice-weekly safety inspections and they meet current Australian playground standards.
The spokesperson added that the government had contacted one of the people involved to follow up on the incident but was yet to contact the other.
The injury has been "very traumatic" for Ms Ho, who had enjoyed a very active life, as well as working a demanding job in an operating theatre.
Being unable to make the most of simple pleasures, like the gym, as restrictions eased on Friday was very upsetting for her.
For Tahlia, too, life is very different.
"Her life's changed for the next 12 months you know, she's going to be sort of reliant on us, she has to wear a brace ... she can't go to school now for the rest of the year," Ms Cirina said.
"Possibly ... for the rest of her life, there will be things that she can't do."
