Child trapped in parcel locker rescued

A child who became trapped inside a parcel locker has been rescued by firefighters.

The youngster got stuck in the locker at a car park on Larkswood Road in Redcar on Sunday, with Cleveland Fire Brigade called to force open the door.

The locker had no ventilation which caused the child's oxygen levels to drop dangerously low.

A spokesperson for the fire service said: "This could have been fatal. The message is clear - never climb inside a confined space or a parcel locker."

Emergency oxygen and further medical treatment was given to the victim at the scene.

The North East Ambulance Service confirmed a crew treated and discharged a patient at the car park.

Cleveland Fire Brigade has asked parents to warn young people about the "life-threatening dangers of enclosed spaces".

The Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents (RoSPA) has also asked caregivers to be "vigilant about the potential dangers postal lockers can pose".

The organisation's head of policy Adrian Simpson said: "These lockers must be designed and manufactured with safety in mind, incorporating escape mechanisms to ensure that, in the rare event a child enters them, they can exit safely.

"We also encourage caregivers to educate their children about the risks of confined spaces and to report any open or damaged parcel lockers to the provider immediately."

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