Mum Shares Moment Her Young Daughter Nearly Suffocates On An Air Lounger

A mother has shared the horrifying moment her young daughter almost suffocated while using an air lounger.

Mum Anthea Chester, from Melbourne, bought one of the popular inflatables as a Christmas present for her 12-year-old daughter, Hollie. However, when Hollie used the air lounger, the lining suddenly split.

Ms Chester told Daily Mail Australia that Hollie had been careful in using the inflatable. “Hollie sat on the edge on the pool and was just sitting on it, she didn’t throw herself on the lounger or anything,” she said.

She took to Facebook to explain what happened and to warn others of the possible dangers of air loungers.

“The colored lining split WITHOUT WARNING, engulfing her body whilst the blow up part shot upwards, pushing her under the water.

“She was left engulfed by the fabric which was clinging to her face and entire body like shrink wrap. She had no idea which way was up or down, or where the edge of the pool was,” she said.

Ms Chester said she was watching her daughter closely, and quickly got the lounger off her with the help of a family friend.

“It was like it sucked her in, the fabric lining split and got engulfed in the middle.

“Luckily she was in the shallow part of the pool and could stand, but she was saying ‘I can’t breathe and can’t get it off, I can’t see anything’,” the mum explained.

Ms Chester said that she emailed the maker of the air lounger and told them about what had happened. “I’m a paramedic and I would hate for anyone to drown because of these loungers,” she explained.

Meanwhile, another woman, Julie Kosy, from Newcastle has also posted on Facebook about a similar experience involving her father who almost drowned on Christmas Day. She wrote:

“Do NOT use on water!! My Dad almost drowned on Christmas Day.

“It [the lounger] turned inside out, then flipped, encasing him face down in the pool totally wrapped in liner and suffocating. Several seconds after this picture was taken he was thrashing about fighting for air. It was absolutely terrifying.”

Ms Chester was offered a replacement from the U.S. company. “They offered to send me another one, provided I could provide them with my email receipt and a photo of it. I initially wanted a replacement so Hollie could use it on land but now I’m not so sure – I don’t think I want one now,” she said.

Sources: Dailymail.co.uk and Kidspot.com.au